Kaunas Jazz 2015, Lithuania, April'15

From four established regular jazz festivals in Lithuania, Kaunas Jazz has always been most commercially oriented one. What doesn't mean only bad thing - for more than two decades on annual basis they introduced many great artists to Lithuanian jazz lovers. I had a great chance to see Dave Holland played live there as well as Al DiMeola among many others.

Still last few years (together with opening of new huge Zalgiris Arena in town) obviously influenced Fest organizers vision: they concentrates on less amount of concerts contracting artists with maximal commercial potential, what means less problems and more money in a case of success. Gregory Porter has been hot name in Europe during last year or two (and it's hard to find any bigger town around which didn't evidenced his live presence), so this April everyone who still didn't see Gregory will be able to do it - Zalgiris Arena is ready for 16 000 such lucky ticket owners.

For fans of more chamber atmosphere, organizers prepared traditional concert in Vilnius Congress Hall (place with really great acoustic) - American a-Capella  septet Naturally 7. They probably aren't hottest thing in modern jazz and Lithuanian listeners already saw them live, but it's a good music for families and far not for jazz lovers only.

Rest of program contains artists with less commercial potential but some of them music could attract real jazz lovers. First of all Polish pianist Wlodek Pawlik,than German trumpeter Till Bronner.

Domestic artists are presented by Kaunas Big Band with guest vocalist Arina (who was titled as Lithuanian "blues queen" two decades ago but stayed almost inactive for years and years after)

See full Fest program below:

NATURALLY 7 (USA)

more info:

http://www.kaunasjazz.lt/en/



Edited by snobb - 15 Feb 2015 at 4:39am

direct on line open air  concert ( April 25, 21:30 EET)

http://www.delfi.lt/video/gyvai/kaunas-jazz-2015-saules-klioso-koncerto-ir-sventinio-fejerverko-transliacija.d?id=67801152


Edited by snobb - 25 Apr 2015 at 1:46pm