In the rhythm of nostalgia: Heinz Affolter, the star of the first festivals, returns to Kaunas Jazz

This spring, Kaunas Jazz will invite you to meet an old friend - the famous Swiss guitarist, Heinz Affolter, who witnessed the festival's inception 34 years ago, will give concerts in as many as four Lithuanian cities.

This year will mark the 35th edition of Kaunas Jazz Festival, the largest jazz festival in Lithuania, and to celebrate the symbolic anniversary, the programme will also include performers who have impressed the audience in the past.

As previously announced, in April, the renowned US saxophonist James Carter will come to Kaunas, returning to the festival after a 21-year hiatus.

Another notable guest will be Heinz Affolter, who played at Kaunas Jazz in the first two editions in 1991 and 1992, and who has returned to the stage many times since then.

In Lithuania, the guitarist will make four appearances. On 30 April he will play at the Jurbarkas Exhibition and Concert Hall (Orthodox Church), on 1 May at the Volfas Engelman Gallery in Kaunas, on 3 May at the Vandenis Music Club in Palanga, and on 4 May at the White Synagogue in Joniskis.

Tickets for all Kaunas Jazz concerts are distributed by BILIETAI.LT.

Thirty-four years ago, Lithuanian concert promoters were living in a completely different reality than today - for example, it was difficult to get the currency with which to pay the honorarium, and inviting a foreign star seemed like an almost impossible mission.

However, even then, there were curious artists who wanted to perform in Lithuania and were not afraid to come to Kaunas Jazz, which was taking its first steps.

One of them is Heinz Affolter, a Swiss guitarist and composer who has put together the rhythms of jazz, folklore, funk and Latin American music into a beautiful musical picture. When he came to Lithuania, he fell in love with the country so much that he dedicated the song "Lithuania" to the country on one of his later albums.

Heinz, who has performed in Lithuania on several occasions, is a well-known Swiss musician, who has collaborated with Dave Weckel and other jazz superstars.

An artist who has been on the scene for decades now, Heinz Affolter is rightly considered one of Europe's most expressive guitarists. A graduate of the Berne Academy of Music, he quickly formed his own band. The Swiss musician, who has toured extensively, gained international recognition with Realities, released in 1987.

It was through this album that Heinz came to the attention of some of the most prominent artists in the jazz world, with the help of Alex Acuna, Fernando Saunders, and Vinnie Colaiuta, considered to be one of the world's best drummers, who helped him to record Acoustic Adventure, released in 1989.

This year, music connoisseurs are in for a real treat - on the occasion of the anniversary of Kaunas Jazz, Heinz will be performing the Acoustic Adventure programme, which has been presented on tours in the USA, Argentina, Germany, Poland and other countries.

Not only was it performed in the first season of the festival, but thanks to the efforts of the Kaunas Jazz organisers it was also released on vinyl, which is still in the possession of many of the country's music-lovers.

This is a melodic and rhythmic music that captivates audiences of different genres. The jazz sounds incorporate elements of funk, Latin America and folk, creating a new musical world.

Interestingly, this time we will see not one but two Affolters on stage. Heinz is coming to Lithuania with two musicians - drummer Dennis Blassnig and bassist Yannick Affolter, who is his son.

He has named his trio "Appletree" (Apple Tree). It is the English word "apple", as the musician found out, that is the historical basis of Affolter's surname.

It is also symbolic - since he is playing with his son, the stage will be the place to see if the apple really is "an apple from the apple tree".

"I'm happy to be back with my good friends. Kaunas and Lithuania will always have a special place in my heart," the musician says.

As previously announced, the audience of Kaunas Jazz will be entertained by the US saxophonist James Carter at the National Kaunas Drama Theatre on 25 April, and on 26 April by the duet of the stars of the famous US band "Snarky Puppy", Michael League and Bill Laurance. For more information about the festival, visit www.kaunasjazz.lt