Dainius Pulauskas Group
Lithuania
8:00 pm-9:00 pm,28,Sep 2011

Artists
Keyboards: Dainius Pulauskas
Trumpet/Flugelhorn: Valerijus Ramoska
Tenor Sax/ Akai EWI: Rimantas Brazaitis
Alto & Soprano Saxes: Kestutis Vaiginis
Bass: Leonid Sinkarenko
Drums: Linas Buda

With no doubt, one of the most distinct and active teams of Lithuanian jazz, D.Pulauskas’ group was gradually formed from 1995. D.Pulauskas’ Group rapidly entered the area of Lithuanian jazz and over a very short period of time it became one of the most significant Lithuanian jazz groups. Soon the group was acknowledged internationally. Over the years of its activities, the Group has performed in a number of European countries as well as in jazz festivals in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and USA.

Currently Dainius Pulauskas Group is well known not only for Lithuanian but also for foreign audience. Currently the group performs more abroad than in Lithuania. Its performances are usually well received by audience and critics. “The Dainius Palauskas Group is a unique sextet whose mixture of melody and muscle, lyricism and the unexpected, places it firmly at the forefront of progressive European jazz-fusion” Jan Patterson All About Jazz. The Finnish jazz critic R.Haapsamo called their music “a powerful pulse of the modern jazz”. The Swedish critic Bo Levender states that “Pulauskas, together with his colleagues creates the best fusion as it can be. The variety of their musical expression is ‘giddy’. These are the somersaults of tearaway swinging and rhythms, and… the most genuine, pure and unembellished jazz.”

Dainius Pulauskas Group is distinguished by its stylistics as the group using electronic and acoustic instruments creates a very eloquent music space, a very peculiar version of fusion. Also the Group is very unique because of its extreme ensemble and mastership of all the members. All the members are professional musicians, who very frequently appear on Lithuanian jazz stage and who are excellent when performing together with different groups.

Mdungu
Africa / Netherlands
9:30 pm-10:30 pm,28,Sep 2011

Artists
Tenor Sax / Vocals: David Beukers
Baritone Sax: Job Chajes
Guitar: Frank Gones & Michiel Bel

Bass: Merijin van de Wijdeven
Sabar/ Vocals: Ebou Gaye Mada
Drums: Benoit Martiny
Percussions: Ruben Montes
Alto Sax: Thijs van Milligen

Mdungu is a nine piece band based in Amsterdam. The musicians, from Holland, Luxembourg, Spain and Gambia, perform their music with skill, flair and energy that is irresistible to any audience. African music by Mdungu is a strong musical experience: it funks, it grooves, it moves your feet and feeds your soul. The percussion is dazzling, the melodies enchanting and the vocals, captivating, creating a chemical reaction that makes people start dancing and romancing. The moment Mdungu kicks off and the music takes over; there is no future, no past, no borders, no passport. The groove is king, and that’s the way it should be.

Mdungu was founded in 2003 by alto saxophonist Thijs van Milligen. From the start Mdungu was a most welcome guest on international stages and festivals of world music, pop and jazz scenes. After the release of their debut album in 2009, they toured intensively in Holland and abroad. A few of the venues they played in are: the dlr Festival of World Cultures, Ireland; Frequenzen Festival, Germany; Openluchttheater Rivierenhof, Antwerp; the Music Meeting, Nijmegen; Amsterdam Roots; Dunya Festival, Rotterdam; Eurosonic/ Noorderslag and Paradiso, Amsterdam. Mdungu receives financial support from the Music Xport programme for 2010/2011: an initiative of Buma Cultuur and Music Center the Netherlands (MCN) that aims to enhance the profile of Dutch artists abroad, and hence to extend their possibilities.