Panevėžys Musical Theatre Wind Orchestra "Garsas", director Martynas Bražas
The legendary wind orchestra "Garsas", saxophonist and composer Leonardas Pilkauskas and talented musicians from Belgium will meet on the stage of the Panevėžys Musical Theatre.
"The aim of this concert is to break down the walls between academic and jazz music. The most important thing is not to please the listener, but to attract his attention to what is dear and close to Lithuanian culture," says Leonardas Pilkauskas, who has prepared interesting arrangements of works by Lithuanian composers especially for this project.
L. Pilkauskas' musical journey as a saxophonist, clarinettist, flutist, composer and arranger has taken him across the European jazz scene. After studying in The Hague and Amsterdam, he has been actively performing, composing, arranging and currently teaching the younger generation in Lithuania.
The concert will feature jazz-style compositions from Lithuanian classics, including Balys Dvarionas' Elegy ("Prie ežerėlio"), Julius Juzeliūnas' African Sketches, and Mikaloy Novikas' song Pėdos ("Footsteps").
Leonardas Pilkauskas' own compositions. Particularly intriguing are the original jazz counterfactuals from his album "There Will Never Be Another Antwerp". Recorded in the summer of 2024 in Belgium with the country's jazz virtuosos, the album is a subtle tribute to the city of Antwerp, inspired by its vibrant and friendly spirit.
But the most important thing in the concert will be the live, spontaneous jazz improvisation. It will be created by Pilkauskas and his Belgian colleagues: drummer Jelle Van Giel, double bassist Cyrille´as Obermüller and keyboard virtuoso Ewout Pierreux. The Panevėžys Music Theatre Wind Orchestra "Garsas", conducted by Martynas Bražas, will enhance the improvisations with a powerful sound.
This is a meeting not to be missed! Classical and jazz, Lithuanians and Belgians meet on 2 March at 6 pm.
