Placed on: 2008-04-21 10:52 Updated on: 2008-06-06 13:57
The 18th Annual Kaunas Jazz Festival
2008-04-21 10:49
It was only a while ago when Lithuanian audience celebrated the Birštonas Jazz Festival. However, just a month later, the country is yet again to give in to the mesmerizing sound of jazz music when the International Kaunas Jazz Festival takes off on April 24th to last for four unforgettable days.
The annual international Kaunas Jazz Festival, which is taking place for the 18th time this year, has perhaps always been one of the most famous, promoted and most awaited spring events in Lithuania. Furthermore, it has often been considered as one of the most impressive events of its kind in Eastern Europe. Such an undisputed reputation has been achieved through the outstanding work of a dedicated team to bring the festival up to the highest level of live sound, quality and organization.
Music-wise, Kaunas Jazz mostly keeps up with the international jazz scene and introduces the audience predominantly with contemporary jazz styles. Thus, the festival has often featured projects which combine jazz with classical music, native folk tunes as well as with latest pop trends. Such diversity of sound suggests that the International Kaunas Jazz Festival equally rests on classical jazz traditions and on innovative style combinations. However, Lithuanian jazzmen are not left behind here for they often find the stage of the festival a perfect opportunity to promote national jazz traditions.
Quality-wise, Kaunas Jazz has never ceased to amaze with performances from highly-ranked participants and guest performers. During the previous 17 festivals, Lithuanian audience has had the honour of welcoming such internationally acclaimed jazz stars as, for example, Charles Lloyd, Mike Stern Band, David Sanborn Band, Elvin Jones, The New York Voices, James Carter, Omar Sosa, Jason Moran, Nils Pedersen, Kurt Elling and many, many others.
The festival’s organisation has always been outstanding and extremely professional in the attempt to meet multiple needs. Therefore, the four days’ festival not only unites groups of jazz musicians and fans, but it also spreads across the place and truly becomes a city festival. The festival’s activities traditionally include a Kaunas Jazz flag hoisting ceremony, brass orchestra parades, photo exhibitions, fashion shows, pavement drawing competitions for children, air balloon flights and, undoubtedly, festive fireworks.
The annual international Kaunas Jazz Festival, which is taking place for the 18th time this year, has perhaps always been one of the most famous, promoted and most awaited spring events in Lithuania. Furthermore, it has often been considered as one of the most impressive events of its kind in Eastern Europe. Such an undisputed reputation has been achieved through the outstanding work of a dedicated team to bring the festival up to the highest level of live sound, quality and organization.
Music-wise, Kaunas Jazz mostly keeps up with the international jazz scene and introduces the audience predominantly with contemporary jazz styles. Thus, the festival has often featured projects which combine jazz with classical music, native folk tunes as well as with latest pop trends. Such diversity of sound suggests that the International Kaunas Jazz Festival equally rests on classical jazz traditions and on innovative style combinations. However, Lithuanian jazzmen are not left behind here for they often find the stage of the festival a perfect opportunity to promote national jazz traditions.
Quality-wise, Kaunas Jazz has never ceased to amaze with performances from highly-ranked participants and guest performers. During the previous 17 festivals, Lithuanian audience has had the honour of welcoming such internationally acclaimed jazz stars as, for example, Charles Lloyd, Mike Stern Band, David Sanborn Band, Elvin Jones, The New York Voices, James Carter, Omar Sosa, Jason Moran, Nils Pedersen, Kurt Elling and many, many others.
The festival’s organisation has always been outstanding and extremely professional in the attempt to meet multiple needs. Therefore, the four days’ festival not only unites groups of jazz musicians and fans, but it also spreads across the place and truly becomes a city festival. The festival’s activities traditionally include a Kaunas Jazz flag hoisting ceremony, brass orchestra parades, photo exhibitions, fashion shows, pavement drawing competitions for children, air balloon flights and, undoubtedly, festive fireworks.
Interesting things to know:
- Since the second festival in 1992, Kaunas Jazz has been regularly promoting a very special kind of carillon jazz. It is remarkable to see how something that was initiated merely as an experiment has grown into the festival’s tradition and has virtually evolved into an independent variety of jazz music.
- For many years, the ‘sacral’ kind of jazz has also been considered as a unique finding of the festival. The sound of jazz played in cathedrals and later in Jewish synagogues has been often characterised as a sublime experience.
- Among numerous other Kaunas Jazz traditions there is a truly special one, which allows the audience to choose a performer of their choice. As a result, their preferred artist gets the opportunity to perform again in Vilnius. These concerts normally serve as the final chord of the festival.
- Every year producers of the festival commission a film on Kaunas Jazz which is to be enjoyed by both Lithuanian and foreign viewers.
This year, Kaunas Jazz takes place on April 24-28. The festival’s programme will include the following events and activities:
24 Apr 2008
17:00 PM - BAKUSTIK JAZZ (Azerbaijan)
The opening ceremony of Kaunas Jazz 2008, Kaunas, Lithuania.
21:00 PM - GUIDA DE PALMA & JAZZINHO (Portugal, Great Britain)
Restaurant-club Combo, Raudondvario road 107, Kaunas, Lithuania.
25 Apr 2008
18:00 PM - JULIUS VILNONIS PROJECT Reflections (Lithuania)
Kaunas War Museum Garden - Carillon Jazz Project.
18:00 PM - Children painting action Kaunas Jazz on the pavement
Open air stage in Vienybės square.
19:00 PM - KAUNAS BIG BAND (Lithuania)
The concert is in memory of Juozas Tiškus - VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
19:00 PM - RON CARTER FOURSIGHT (USA)
VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
21:00 PM - SONY JAZZ STAGE PRIZE WINNERS
Restaurant Europa, J. Gruodžio st.19/21.
21:00 PM - GIOVANCA (The Netherlands)
Open air stage in Vienybės square.
21:00 PM - SAULĖS KLIOŠAS (Lithuania)
Open air stage in Vienybės square.
Jazz fashion show/firework show after concert!
23:00 PM - JAGÚAR (Iceland)
Restaurant-club Combo, Raudondvario road 107.
26 Apr 2008
15:00 PM - GINO VANELLI feat. BERT VAN DEN BRINK (Canada, The Netherlands)
VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
16:00 PM - JUGEND JAZZ ORCHESTER BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG (Germany) Open air stage in Vienybės square.
16:00 PM - UNO JAZZ ENSEMBLE (USA)
Open air stage in Vienybės square.
19:00 PM - JAN MAKSIMOWICZ (Lithuania)
VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
19:00 PM - LENY ANDRADE & BANDA SAMBOP (Brazil)
VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
21:00 PM - R-CORP (Estonia)
Open air stage in Vienybės square.
21:00 PM - MAGIC MUSHROOMS (Lithuania)
Open air stage in Vienybės square.
23:00 PM - GIOVANCA (The Netherlands)
Restaurant-club Combo, Raudondvario road 107.
27 Apr 2008
14:00 PM - SAMMER MAKHOUL & ITAMAR DOARI (Israel)
Kaunas Synagogue, E. Ožeškienės st. 13.
Jewish Theme in Jazz.
16:00 PM - DWA TRIO (Poland)
Vytautas Magnus Church, Aleksoto st. 3.
Concert of sacral jazz music.
19:00 PM - MAREMMA (Italy)
VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
19:00 PM - ROY AYERS BAND (USA)
VDU Grand Hall, S. Daukanto st. 28.
22:00 PM - HUBA (Finland)
Restaurant-club Combo, Raudondvario road 107.
28 Apr 2008
19:00 PM - AL DI MEOLA WORLD SINFONIA (USA)
Vilnius Concert Congress Hall, Vilnius st. 6/14, Vilnius, Lithuania.
At the request of the audience!
Place: Kaunas and Vilnius.