Kęstutis Vaiginis trio

Kęstutis Vaiginis – saxophones (Lithuania)
Michał Barański – double bass (Poland)
Giuseppe “Joe” Santoro – drums (Italy)

Kęstutis Vaiginis, one of Lithuania’s leading jazz saxophonists and composers, continually introduces audiences to new musical projects and creative collaborations.

This time, his international trio brings together two world-class virtuosos who have recently joined Vaiginis’s projects: Polish double bassist and three-time Grammy Award winner Michał Barański, fresh from a tour with Greg Osby, and Italian drummer Giuseppe “Joe” Santoro, who has recently completed a successful European tour with Stanley Clarke.

Both of Vaiginis’s partners are distinctive composers in their own right, bringing new colours and perspectives to his original music.

Kęstutis Vaiginis’s talent as a composer is reflected in the remarkable international journey of his music. With various ensembles, he has performed his original compositions not only in Lithuania, but also in the Netherlands, Spain, France, the USA, Germany, Turkey, Brazil, India, South Korea, China, Japan, Malaysia, Scotland and many other countries.

He has also composed music for big bands and performed his own works with the German State Youth Jazz Orchestra.

As a composer, Vaiginis combines modern jazz with elements of classical music, drawing inspiration from bebop, Latin and Afro musical traditions.

“His vision is subtle and provocative, rooted in respect for tradition while always looking forward,” renowned American saxophonist Steve Wilson has said of Vaiginis’s music.

Vaiginis’s past and present collaborators include Alex Sipiagin, David Berkman, Dave Kikoski, Ed Howard, Donald Edwards, Mike Stern, Dave Allen, Adam Cruz, Randal Corsen, Joonas Haavisto, Barbara Dennerlein, Hernan Romero, Deniss Pashkevich, as well as musicians from Indonesia, South Korea and Italy.

As both a bandleader and guest artist, he has appeared with various ensembles at prestigious jazz festivals including North Sea Jazz, as well as festivals in Rotterdam, London, Ottawa, Cape Town, Istanbul, Hong Kong and Tokyo. He has also performed at New York’s legendary Blue Note jazz club and toured across four continents.

Vaiginis’s discography includes six albums of original music, several of which feature prominent American jazz musicians. His compositions have also appeared on several compilations of Lithuanian music.

He is a prizewinner of numerous national and international competitions, a recipient of the European Cultural Foundation’s Europamusicale award, and winner of the Grand Prix at the Birštonas Jazz Festival in 2010.