On the last day of July, Lithuanian audiences will be treated to a special event. For the first time in our country, the world jazz star Mark Guiliana will be performing, bringing his most famous project, the concert hall-conquering Beat Music!, to Vilnius. Vilnius Festivals, which annually presents exceptional events, is organising this concert on 31 July in the most suitable setting for a summer evening - one of the most beautiful courtyards in the Old Town of the capital (Trakų str. 10).

Mark Guiliana has been described by the New York Times as "the drummer around whom a cult of adoration has formed". A Grammy-nominated composer as well as a performer, Mark Guiliana captivates audiences with a spirit of musical adventure and a gift for spontaneous creativity. Considered a superstar by his fans, he performs jazz as virtuosically as he does electronic music. Guiliana has played with such luminaries as jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, the electronic band M83, hip-hop artist Meshell Ndegeocello, singer St. Vincent, Pearl Jam and even the legendary David Bowie.

Mark Guiliana and his band are featured on David Bowie's latest album, Blackstar. Guiliana remembers: "Bowie heard us playing on the underground in New York. He decided he wanted our sound for his album. Bowie asked us to play the way we were used to - which was a huge compliment! He used our sound as a model for his whole album." (drummersreview.com)

Mark Guiliana's music, which blurs the boundaries between genres, grew out of his dual experiences. He says he grew up listening to rock music. He started playing drums in 1995, when Guiliana says grunge was on the rise and bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were dominating the radio stations. "I was immersed in this style, but thanks to my teachers I was introduced to the world of jazz and became interested in it."

Mark Guiliana's project "Beat Music!" has been captivating audiences around the world with dynamic and innovative performances that pulsate with an electrifying fusion of jazz, electronic and experimental sounds. Thanks to Guiliana's visionary ideas, this ensemble pushes the boundaries of contemporary music, offering audiences a sonic journey that cannot be confined to the narrow confines of one style or another. "Beat Music is a collective of creative minds and brilliant instrumentalists, graced by Guiliana's own stunning drumming virtuosity. Chris Morrissey on bass guitar and keyboardist Nick Semrad give Beat Music a captivating blend of live instrumentation and electronic experimentation. Together, the band members create an integral blend of traditional jazz elements and cutting-edge electronic sounds - an unexpected but captivating sonic experience. The audience is transported into a realm where traditional notions of genre disappear, and the rhythm that overwhelms the musical fabric is created by both complex polyrhythmic formulas and a pulsating groove. Each composition unfolds with unpredictable energy, inviting listeners to fully immerse themselves in distinctive sonic landscapes.

Mark Guiliana and Beat Music have performed at world-renowned festivals such as the legendary Montreal Jazz Festival, New York's Winter Jazz Festival, Tokyo's Billboard Live and other prestigious venues: Chicago's The Space, Minneapolis' Icehouse, Portland's Star Theater, San Francisco's The Independent, Los Angeles' The Echo, Porto's Casa da Musica and Paris' La Maroquinierie, Amsterdam's Paradiso Noord, Istanbul's Zorlu Center, Brussels' Ancienne Belgique, Basel's Gare du Nord, Barcelona's Apolo, London, Dortmund, Dublin, Tel Aviv and other cities.

Mark Guiliana's impressive discography includes nine albums, most recently Beat Music! Beat Music! Beat Music!"(2019), "Music For Doing" (2022), "The Sound of Listening" (2022), "Mischief" (2023). With Brad Mehldau, Guiliana recorded "Mehliana: Taming the Dragon" (2014), with David Bowie - not only "Black Star" (2016), but also "Nothing Has Changed", "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)" (2014), and also played on the album "No Plan (EP)" (2017), among others.