Leonid Shinkarenko
As a bassist, composer and group leader, he is one of the key figures in Lithuanian jazz. His virtuoso bass playing is distinguished for exceptional sensuousness and melodic richness. The bass in his hands can act as a sensitive rhythmic background and a responsive companion to other instruments, as an authoritative leader, as a narrator and a lyric character. As for his original compositions, he is best known for gripping romantic ballads. He made his debut in 1981 with the Vladimir Chekasin Quartet (Chekasin was his teacher). Since then he has performed with many musicians coming from different musical backgrounds. In 1997 he made his debut as a leader with Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 4 that later became a basis for his other formations, such as Jazz 5 and Jazz 7. All of them perform his original compositions. He currently plays with his own bands and appears with the Lithuanian Jazz Trio and Dainius Pulauskas Group. Besides performing and composing, he also teaches and organises the annual Nida Jazz Festival.
Jūratė Kučinskaitė
Homenaje a Vitas Gerulaitis en jazz - After You Are Gone
to be continued... - Don't Care
Biography
Leonid Shinkarenko (b. 1957), an acoustic and electric bass virtuoso, is a cornerstone figure in Lithuanian jazz. During 25 years of his career, he has collaborated with numerous musicians of different trends, and has participated in recording of around 60 albums. For five years in a run the critics polls of the former USSR have selected him one of the best bass players. His performing style is marked by deep feeling and melodic sensitivity; as a composer he is especially well known for his ballads.
His impressive jazz career started in 1981, when he played with the Quartet of Vladimir Chekasin, his mentor. From 1982 to 1989 the bassist was a member of the legendary Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet; later on he has been performing with the quintet Gone With Jazz, the Vilnius Jazz Quartet and the Lithuanian Art Orchestra. The scale of his creative interests is exemplified by his collaborations with the Indian music ensemble Svara (2001) and the Vilnius Percussionists (2003).
In 1997 he made his debut as a leader by releasing an album of his compositions Sagittarius. It was recorded by the group Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 4, which he subsequently transformed into a quintet and then into a septet.
With different groups Leonid Shinkarenko has performed on many European stages and has been featured by such festivals as Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw (1987, with Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet), Varna Jazz Festival in Bulgaria (1992, with Vytautas Labutis Quartet) and others.
Recently he is mostly heard with his own groups and the Lithuanian Jazz Trio, whose contribution to promoting Lithuanian jazz was recognized by the LT Identity award of the Lithuanian Institute in 2004. With the Lithuanian Jazz Trio he has performed at the Jazz Expo in Genoa, Italy (2004), and the International Music Fair MIDEM in Cannes, France (2005).
Leonid Shinkarenko is also involved in educational activity. The musician has started annual Nida Jazz Marathon that has evolved into Nida Jazz Festival.
© Jūratė Kučinskaitė
Tel: +370 699 34864
Sagittarius
Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 4: Vytautas Labutis - as, ss, Dainius Pulauskas - p, synth, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, db, Linas Būda - dr
Bonifa Records 05397, 1997 (CD)
Le Bolero
Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 7: Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl, Vytautas Labutis - as, bs, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Dainius Pulauskas - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Darius Rudis - dr, Pavel Giunter - perc, vib
Leo Music 001, 2001 (CD)
Vitas Gerulaitis. Remembrance in Jazz
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, Vytautas Labutis - as, ss, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, flhn, Skirmantas Sasnauskas - tb, Dainius Pulauskas - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Linas Būda - dr, Darius Rudis - dr, Pavel Giunter - perc, Arkady Gotesman - perc
Leo Music 002, 2004 (CD)
New Mood Jazz, 2006 (CD)
to be continued...
Lithuanian Jazz Trio: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, voc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Arvydas Jofė - dr, perc, voc, electronics
Trio JLS 001, 2005 (CD)
As a group member and guest musician
Searchings and Discoverings
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Melodija C60 21387 001, 1984 (LP)
Nostalgia
Vladimir Chekasin Quartet: Vladimir Chekasin - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Leo Records LR 119, 1985 (LP)
The Memoirs
Vladimir Chekasin Quartet: Vladimir Chekasin - saxes, synth, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, perc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
Melodija C60 23447 000, 1986 (LP)
Konstantin Petrosyan: Concerto for Voice and Orchestra
Tatevik Oganesyan - voc + Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Melodija C60 24479 009, 1986 (LP)
Fortune Teller
Valentina Ponomareva - voc + Vladimir Chekasin Quartet: Vladimir Chekasin - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Leo Records LR 136, 1986 (LP)
New Vitality
Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Leo Records LR 142, 1986 (LP)
Jazz Compositions
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Melodija C60 25121 007, 1987 (LP)
Is This Possible?
Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Melodija C60 25691 009, 1987 (LP)
Intrusion
Valentina Ponomareva - voc + Vladimir Chekasin Quartet: Vladimir Chekasin - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, and others
Leo Records LR 156, 1988 (LP)
Leo Records GY 401-404, 2001 (CD)
Everyone to His Taste
Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
RiTonis, 1991 (MC)
Invitation for Dance
Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, tp, perc, Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, perc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, perc, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
Saxabassa Records 0002, 1993 (MC)
WaltzAtto
Vladimir Tarasov & Lithuanian Art Orchestra
Sonore Records SN 009, 1993 (CD)
The Pig's Saga
Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Juozas Milašius - g, Eugenijus Jonavičius - g, Giedrius Klimka - g, Romas Lileikis - g, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, Audrius Balsys - ky, programming, Daiva Urbanavičiūtė - voc, Arturas Pugačiauskas - voc, Andrius Žebrauskas - voc, Andrius Mamontovas - voc, Rima Musnickaitė - voc, Raimis Trilikauskas - voc
Bomba Records BBCD 002, 1993 (CD)
About Standards (vol.1)
Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, perc, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
Saxabassa Records 0003, 1993 (MC)
It Also Snows in Paradise (music for film)
Vytautas Labutis - sax, Juozas Milašius - g, Dalius Naujokaitis - dr, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, and others
WDB Records 002, 1994 (CD)
Gone With Jazz
Quintet "Gone With Jazz": Vytautas Labutis - sax, Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl, Artūras Anusauskas - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Partitūra P7006, 1995 (MC)
The Gospel According to Romas
Vytautas Labutis - sax, Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, and others
Nona Music, 1995 (MC)
Bonifa Records 0010, 1996 (CD)
Suite for Five
Vytautas Labutis - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, Artūras Chalikovas - g, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Partitūra P7007, 1995 (MC)
Insomnia
Quintet "Gone With Jazz": Vytautas Labutis - sax, Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl, Artūras Anusauskas - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Bonifa Records 009, 1996 (CD)
Vilnius Jazz Quartet & Neda
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc + Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - ky, tp, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
BMK Records 5705-4, 1997 (MC)
Oleg Molokoyedov & Vytautas Labutis LMR-001, 2000 (CD)
Christmas Flowers
Choir "Brevis", Vytautas Labutis - sax, Artūras Anusauskas - p, synth, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Linas Būda - dr, Vadim Volkov - g, Gintautas Venislovas - synth, acc, Darius Bažanovas - tu, Chordos String Quartet, Vilnius Percussionists + soloists: Neda Malūnavičiūtė, Česlovas Gabalis, Stasys Povilaitis, Algirdas Janutas
Lithuanian National Radio and Television LRCD0022, 1999 (CD)
Sergei Sopelev: EGO
Andrei Polevikov - p, Sergei Sopelev - b, Darius Rudis - dr, Leonid Shinkarenko - b
Azbi, 1999 (MC)
Azbi LCD-090, 1999 (CD)
Aleksandr Belkin: Real Love
Aleksandr Belkin - voc, Dmitry Bulybenko - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, and others
Aleksandr Belkin, 2000 (CD)
Sunny Gets Blue
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl + Vytautas Labutis Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - as, Adomas Rekašius - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Saxabassa Records SR 007, 2000 (CD)
Journey To...
Svara: Anatoly Lomonosov - sitar, Jūratė Adlytė - tampura, Rytis Kamičaitis - tabla + guests: Vytautas Labutis - ss, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, db, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, and others
Kukū Records SMF 011, 2001 (CD)
Vilnius Jazz Quartet feat. Neda
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl + Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, Oleg Molokoyedov - ky, tp, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
Dialog Music DM-80023, 2001 (CD)
Bio Jazz
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl + Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, tp, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Pūkas CD-148, 2002 (CD)
Orkestretto. Live in Kaunas Jazz 2002
Vytautas Labutis - as, ss, p, Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl, Dmitry Golovanov - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Darius Rudis - dr, Gediminas Laurinavičius - perc, Kęstutis Vaiginis - ss, Justė Sakalytė - as, Eugeny Snytkin - ts, Robertynas Vainoras - bs
Saxabassa Records SR 006, 2002 (CD)
Spirits Rising
Giunter Percussion: Pavel Giunter, Tomas Kulikauskas, Artūras Pranskūnas + guests: Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Valentinas Gelgotas - fl, Artur Sabilo - g
Zet Records ZETCD 004, 2004
In compilations
Birštonas-82
"Granny Had a Grey-bearded Billy-goat"
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Melodija C60 19021 006, 1983 (LP)
VII Vsesojuznij konkurs artistov estrady
"A Failed Date"
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - as, Vytautas Labutis - ss, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Melodija C60 20415 003, 1984 (LP)
Autumn Rhythms-83 (1)
"Searchings and Discoverings" (fragment)
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Melodija C60 21537 000, 1985 (LP)
Autumn Rhythms-83 (2)
"The Memoirs" (fragment)
Vladimir Chekasin Quartet: Vladimir Chekasin - reeds, synth, perc, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, perc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, perc, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
Melodija C60 21539 005, 1985 (LP)
Bratislava Jazz Days-84
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Opus 9115 1652-53, 1985 (LP)
Birštonas-86 (2)
Vladimir Chekasin. "Concerto for Jazz Orchestra" (fragment)
Petras Vyšniauskas - bs + Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Melodija C60 25057 004, 1987 (LP)
Autumn Rhythms-86
"Perpetuum mobile" (fragment)
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - sax, Juozas Milašius - g, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Melodija C60 25587 000, 1989 (LP)
New Music from Russia: The '80s
Konstantin Petrosyan. "Concerto for Voice and Orchestra" (fragment)
Tatevik Oganesyan - voc + Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Leo Records CDLR 801-808, 1989 (CD)
The Great Parade of Musicians 1999
"Improvisation on Classical Jazz Themes"
Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - sax, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Vilnius Recording Studio VSCD-065, 1999 (CD)
Euro Jazz 2004
"Night & Day"
Lithuanian Jazz Trio: Vytautas Labutis - as, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Arvydas Jofė - dr
Jazz & Tzaz 0040-2, 2004 (CD)
Jazzy Lithuania
"to be continued..."
Lithuanian Jazz Trio: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, voc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, voc, Arvydas Jofė - dr, perc, voc
"Nadoeda"
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc + Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
"Le Bolero"
Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 7: Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, Vytautas Labutis - saxes, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Dainius Pulauskas - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Darius Rudis - dr, Pavel Giunter - perc
Judita Bartoševičienė VMJ 001, 2004 (CD)
Free Spirits: Jazz from Lithuania 2005
"Prologue"
Neda Malūnavičiūtė - fl, voc + Vilnius Jazz Quartet: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
"After You Are Gone"
Vytautas Labutis - ss, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Dainius Pulauskas - p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Linas Būda - dr, Arkady Gotesman - perc
Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre LMIPCCD 026, 2005 (CD)
Lithuanian Jazz 1980-1990
"The Balkan Sun" / "Reflections III" / "A Failed Date"
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - saxes, Vytautas Labutis - saxes, p, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
"And Clear Water"
Petras Vyšniauskas - ss, bs, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, Dominykas Vyšniauskas - voc
"Is This Possible?" (fragments)
Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Konstantin Petrosyan. "Concerto for Voice and Orchestra" (fragments)
Tatevik Oganesyan - voc + Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
"The Memoirs" (fragments)
Vladimir Chekasin Quartet: Vladimir Chekasin - reeds, synth, perc, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, synth, perc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, perc, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
"All Day Long"
Remy Filipovich - ts, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Semplice SECD014, 2005 (CD)
Laureates of the "Birštonas" Jazz Festivals
"Self-portrait" / "Ebony Chant"
Quintet "Gone With Jazz": Vytautas Labutis - as, blc, Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, fl, Artūras Anusauskas - p, synth, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc
"Improvisation on a Theme of Lithuanian Folk Song"
Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet: Petras Vyšniauskas - as, Vytautas Labutis - ts, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr
Vladimir Chekasin. "Paraphrase on Various Themes" (fragment)
Vladimir Chekasin - saxes, voc, Arina - voc, Liudas Mockūnas - saxes, Oleg Molokoyedov - p, tp, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Gediminas Laurinavičius - dr, perc, Linas Būda - dr
Vladimir Chekasin. "Concerto for Jazz Orchestra" (fragment)
Vladimir Chekasin Big Band
Birštonas' Cultural Centre, 2005 (CD)
Lithuanian Pop / Rock / Folk / Jazz Music Sampler MIDEM 2006
"Don't Care"
Lithuanian Jazz Trio: Vytautas Labutis - saxes, synth, voc, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Arvydas Jofė - dr, perc, voc, electronics
Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre LMIPCCD 034, 2006 (CD)
Jazzy Vilnius
"Suite Adoration" (fragment)
Vladimir Chekasin Big Band, Vladimir Chekasin - p, Vytautas Labutis - sax, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Arvydas Jofė - dr, perc
Judita Bartoševičienė VMJ 002, 2007 (CD)
Note Lithuania: Jazz
"Le Bolero"
Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 7: Neda Malūnavičiūtė - voc, Vytautas Labutis - saxes, Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Dainius Pulauskas - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Darius Rudis - dr, Pavel Giunter - perc
Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre LMIPCCD+DVD 002, 2007 (CD)
Note Lithuania: Folk
"Flour Mill"
Dainius Pulauskas Group: Valerijus Ramoška - tp, Rimantas Brazaitis - sax, Dainius Pulauskas - ky, Leonid Shinkarenko - b, Linas Būda - dr + folk music band "Sutaras"
Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre LMIPCCD+DVD 001, 2007 (CD)