„The axis of this year’s festival program is the internationally breakthrough Portuguese new jazz. It will be accompanied by a presentation of jazz giants from Portuguese-speaking countries Brazil and Mozambique,“ said Antanas Gustys, organizer of „Vilnius Jazz“.
The festival will begin with the brightest Portuguese jazz ensembles at the moment – double bassist and composer Hugo Carvalhais’ „Oblong Emission“ and the quartet „Garfo“. The new jazz scene of this country and its figures will be presented in a lecture by the famous music producer, festival curator, and founder of one of the world’s most influential contemporary jazz labels „Clean Feed Records“, Pedro Costa.
On October 14, at the Vilnius Old Theatre, one of the most distinctive jazz creators of his generation in Portugal, H. Carvalhais, will present a project with a group of selected improvisers, concluding his conceptual album cycle exploring various aspects of life and physical reality. H. Carvalhais began this journey back in 2010.
All albums were released by the „Clean Feed“ company. They received praise from European critics, won several awards, and established the self-taught double bassist H. Carvalhais as a master of modern music. The album recordings featured improvisational music stars from the USA, France, and Lithuania.
The final part of the cycle „Sacra“, which will be performed on the „Vilnius Jazz“ stage, will review the most important stops, landscapes, and compositions of H. Carvalhais’ 16-year creative journey, opening new horizons of improvisation.
H. Carvalhais’ creative path is unique – from art studies at the University of Porto to mystical, philosophical music composition. With his works, he explores existential themes with almost mathematical precision, consistently enriching a distinctive creative universe. H. Carvalhais boldly combines the sound of acoustic double bass, subtle electronics, synthesizer textures, and modern jazz improvisations in his music.
Close creative ties connect the musician with the Lithuanian jazz scene. The Portuguese artist has collaborated for many years with saxophonist Liudas Mockūnas and participated in his initiated „Improdimensijos“ projects. The Lithuanian will join H. Carvalhais’ ensemble and the „Vilnius Jazz“ project.
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On October 15, the quartet „Garfo“, uniting the youngest generation of music talents from Lisbon, will perform at the festival. It is led by one of the most promising young Portuguese jazz and free improvisation saxophonists, Bernardo Tinoco. According to critics, „Garfo“ heralds a new rise of Portuguese jazz. The group’s debut album won the „Breakthrough of the Year“ award at the „Festa do Jazz“ festival and was nominated for the best jazz album of the year category at the most important Portuguese music awards „Play“.
The quartet’s innovative music, full of spontaneous improvisations, surprises with maturity and challenges older musician colleagues. The group has conquered not only local stages but has also successfully presented itself in Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The worldwide breakthrough of Portuguese „free“ jazz and improvisational music would be hardly possible without the efforts of the „Clean Feed“ label. P. Costa founded it in 2001 together with a group of jazz enthusiasts. He managed to create a business model that allows musicians to realize uncompromising creative ideas without commercial pressure.
Today, the label’s catalog includes more than 700 releases, establishing Portugal as an important international center of improvisational music. P. Costa not only documents the work of the brightest Portuguese and European jazz innovators but also constantly presents „Clean Feed“ artists in Europe and North America as a festival curator, conference organizer, and lecturer. The producer will talk more about this on October 15 at the MO Museum.
The concerts of the 39th international festival „Vilnius Jazz“ will take place from October 14 to 19 at the Vilnius Old Theatre.
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