Untitled Document
Andrea Pellegrini - Riccardo Ienna - Vytautas Labutis - Eugenijus Kanevičius
Italy, Lithuania
Andrea Pellegrini – p
Riccardo Ienna – dr
Vytautas Labutis – sax
Eugenijus Kanevičius – b
The spirit of a united Europe at the festival this year is represented by two projects featuring prominent Lithuanian musicians and their colleagues from other countries. Marijus Aleksa will be playing with representatives of the British jazz scene; whereas, jazz greats of Lithuania, Vytautas Labutis and Eugenijus Kanevičius have chosen Italians as their stage partners.
“Two years ago I happened to be playing together with the Italian pianist Andrea Pellegrini in Vilnius. At the time we had an idea to continue our collaboration. This year, when Vilnius boasts the title of the European Capital of Culture, we thought it would be the right time for a joint Italian- Lithuanian project,” Labutis said.
The two Italian musicians might, as yet, be undiscovered talents for Lithuanians, but back home they need no introduction. Pellegrini is a member of a famous Italian musical family. The pianist, composer, and arranger first acquired a classical music education and then individually mastered the jazz style. Later he received a diploma in jazz studies. The musician’s talent came into the spotlight early, and today the list of people he has collaborated with extends to several dozen, among them; the Italian double bass player Bruno Tommaso, American jazz star Paul McCandless, the guitarist Jamie Moses who played with the rock band Queen, and many others. Pellegrini has arranged music for several films, he is also an experienced lecturer, who teaches at several schools in Italy and represents Italy at the European Music School Union. The breadth of his musical creed is reflected in the variety of line-ups he has played with, from a jazz duo with McCandless to the Livorno Quintet, which performs early 19th century music inspired by the art of Tuscany. This current project with the Lithuanian musicians is yet another indication of the skills of this multitalented person.
Riccardo Ienna started playing drums in his teens. Soon, teachers noticed the capable youngster—Ienna won many prestigious scholarships and was invited for training at the International Association of Jazz Schools where the lecturer was the prominent US saxophonist Dave Liebman. After graduation, Ienna played for some time with the Italian National Youth Jazz Orchestra lead by Tommaso, and touring brought him to the fore—at the end of the last decade he was already performing with, the drummer, Peter Erskine’s trio and the jazz flute virtuoso James Newton. Pellegrini, incidentally, has also collaborated with Erskine in recording the critically acclaimed album Ainulindale.
Saxophonist Vytautas Labutis regularly performs with various groups and has played with almost all the outstanding jazz musicians of Lithuania. He is one of the most respected jazz figures in the country with a career extending over nearly three decades and appearances in various line-ups—from the quintet Džiazo Nublokšti to his own octet, or joint projects with the groups of Leonid Šinkarenka, Dainius Pulauskas and Vladimir Tarasov. Vytautas plays clarinet, saxophone, and keyboards and has performed in many European countries, Asia, the USA and Australia. He has also participated in recording many CDs, and written music for theatre and film. For his ability to find common language with the musicians of many countries and fascinate audiences with his international projects, Labutis is called a real “citizen of the world” by jazz fans.
A frequent stage partner of Labutis, Eugenijus Kanevičius, is a composer and bass player, whose skill has gained him recognition outside the borders of Lithuania. Eugenijus’ career of more than two decades has been marked by collaboration with nearly all the jazz stars of Lithuania, including Liudas Mockūnas, Dainius Pulauskas, Arkadijus Gotesmanas, Petras Vyšniauskas and many others, as well as with several Estonian groups. He recorded his first solo album Meditacija in 1995, and four years ago produced the CD Concerto Grosso recorded together with Labutis. An inventive approach to his instrument and universal skills that allow him to play various jazz styles are the characteristics that have gained this musician great respect from audiences, and will undoubtedly contribute to this joint Lithuanian and Italian programme.
