By Vugar Imanov – Trend:

The concert of Lithuanian Dainius Pulauskas Group, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, was held in Rotunda jazz club in Baku as part of the International Jazz Festival 2016, Trend Life reported.

The concert was held under the auspices of the Lithuanian Embassy in Azerbaijan.

The performance of Dainius Pulauskas, famous Lithuanian musician, distinguished pianist and composer, and his Dainius Pulauskas Group was a real gift for jazz fans in Baku.

Before the event, the guests could taste drinks and cheese of Lithuanian producers. The artists and cultural figures, creative people, foreign guests attended the event. Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Valdas Lastauskas appreciated holding the International Jazz Festival 2016 in Baku.

"The traditional International Jazz Festival in Baku has been recognized worldwide,” the diplomat said. “It is gratifying that Dainius Pulauskas Group, which has made a significant contribution to the development of jazz over the past 20 years, took part in such a significant musical event.”

“It was my dream, moreover, it is pleasant that Lithuanian musicians were on Baku’s stage again after six years and took part in such a significant musical event,” he added. “I wish the festival further success.”

Dainius Pulauskas Group director Antanas Gustys expressed sincere gratitude for the warm reception, stressing the high-level-organization of the festival.

"This is my first visit to Baku and I am fascinated with Baku’s beauty and hospitality,” he said. “International Jazz Festival in Baku with the participation of many famous bands and singers, creates cultural bridges among different peoples, helps share experience and enriches the world jazz music.”

“Azerbaijan has great jazz traditions and in the future we can implement joint projects with your musicians and bands," he added.

Warm and friendly conversation turned into jazz rhythms of Dainius Pulauskas Group. The band gives pleasure to jazz fans by performing its best songs.

Of course, the musicians are greeted with rapturous standing ovation at every performance.

It is impossible to imagine contemporary Lithuanian jazz without this band.

Dainius Pulauskas Group was formed in 1996 by musicians uniting with keyboard player and composer Dainius Pulauskas. Of course, the band staff changed from time to time, but new musicians brought new ideas. And it gave even greater impetus to the development and enrichment of jazz culture.

Dainius Pulauskas (keyboards), Valerijus Ramoshka (trumpet), Liutauras Janusaitis (tenor sax), Kestutis Vaiginis (alto and soprano saxes), Domas Aleksa (bass), Linas Buda (drums) performed that evening.

The band's repertoire consists largely of compositions by its leader, Dainius Pulauskas. Either marked with Nordic austerity, or seething with energy and peppiness, his music invariably displays solid structuring of musical textures and colourful combinations of acoustic and electronic instruments.

The band's key to success is the artistic excellence of its individual members, their unparalleled ensemble, and, of course, their music – a most idiosyncratic and vivid version of fusion.

Dainius Pulauskas Group is popular worldwide. The band is called ambassadors of Lithuanian jazz. The band has nine albums and numerous performances at festivals in Europe, Africa, America and Asia.