PETRAS VYSNIAUSKAS - Saxophon
Petras Vysniauskas is an outstanding jazz musician and multi-instrumentalist. He has performed in many European countries and took part in nearly all major jazz festivals in West and East Europe. Inspired by his playing, several composers of symphonic or chamber music composed pieces for him. He is creative, versatile and has an extraordinary virtuosity, and is able to incorporate differing styles of jazz as well as contemporary concert music in his playing without loosing his links with his personal roots - the spirit and profundity of Lithuanian folk-music.
He played with Steve Lacy, Vyacheslav Ganelin, Han Bennink, Jon Christensen, Tomasz Stanko, Vladimir Chekasin Big Band, Kent Carter, Theo Jorgensmann, Jimmy Owens, Elliot Sharp, Paul Jeffrey, the "Rova Saxophone Quartet", Jazz Baltica", and many others. In addition he performs in a duo with the distinguished Lithuanian folksinger Veronika Povilioniene.
In the 80's he was several times musician of the year in ex USSR. In 1992 Petras Vysniauskas appeared with his quartet on the Eurovision Television programme "European Jazz Night". Together with Klaus Kugel he recorded the soundtrack for the German movie LENI. Petras Vysniauskas is winner of the "Grand Prix of Arts" by the Lithuanian Government 99.
REVIEWS
"Something of the rugged beauty of the Lithuanian countryside and the passion of many of his fellow countrymen has been breathed into his music. For me Petras Vysniauskas' music remains unforgettable because of his clear, individual concept. The use of themes from traditional folk music is one facet of this saxophonist, who reflects both the modern development in jazz and the sound idioms of the new and latest improvised and composed music. However, as he himself says, his feeling for folk music is part of his musical identity. And he adds: "In Lithuanian folk songs I hear echoes of John Coltrane; I try to combine this with the free form of expression offered by modern jazz"..."
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