Kęstutis Vaiginis

The saxophonist of younger generation Kęstutis Vaiginis (b. 1978), acclaimed for his delicate sound, lyrical and emotional approach, plays both classical music and jazz, and also composes. In his compositions he combines expression of modern jazz and academic music with national flavour.

Kęstutis Vaiginis studied at the Vilnius Conservatoire and earned Master Degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where he studied with Petras Vyšniauskas. While still a student he was a leader of the Academy's saxophone quartet Differences. Since 2003, he has studied at the North Nederland Conservatoire.

The saxophonist's list of awards includes first prize in Juozas Pakalnis Young Performers Competition (1995, 1997), diploma in classical category in international saxophone competition Brilliant Note in Latvia (2000), second prize in international improvisation competition Autumn Watercolour in Klaipeda (2001), and third prize in the competition of the jazz festival Leiden Swingt! in the Netherlands (2005).

Since he started playing jazz in his brother's Ugnius Vaiginis Dixieland in 1999, Kęstutis Vaiginis has become active on Lithuanian jazz scene. He has collaborated with Jazz Pictures, Guerilla Jazz.lt, Vytautas Labutis' project Orkestretto, Artūras Anusauskas, Linas Rimša, Vladimir Kaplan, Dainius Pulauskas, Eugenijus Kanevičius, Darius Rudis, and Arvydas Jofė. The saxophonist also appeared in a number of international projects including trio with Barbara Dennerlein and Daniel Messina, and the same trio joined by guitarist Herman Romero; also he has collaborated with Swiss bassist Herbie Kopf, American pianist David Berkman, Dutch trumpeter Saskia Laroo, American drummer Ralph Peterson and Spanish guitarist's Alvar Nevado Quartet. In various formations he has appeared in festivals in Lithuania and abroad including Alicante Jazz 2005 in Spain.

Recently besides his studies in the Netherlands, Kęstutis Vaiginis primarily has worked with international groups SiBuLi Quartet (with Italian guitarist Leonardo Grimaudo, Italian bassist Fulvio Buccafusco and Bulgarian drummer Atanas Popov), international saxophone quartet Differences and his own quartet (with Indonesian pianist Ramadhani Syah, Korean bassist Chul Hoon Lee and Italian drummer Flavio Li Vigni). In addition, the saxophonist collaborates with Lithuanian ensemble involving Eugenijus Kanevičius, Darius Rudis and Dainius Pulauskas. All groups perform his original compositions.

© Jūratė Kučinskaitė