November 15-19 returning to the capital, the autumn jazz forum "Vilnius Mama Jazz" will be launched by the unique projects of this festival - an international showcase of jazz artists and a discussion platform "Vilnius Mama Jazz paraštės". They will bring together a larger and more interesting group of guests than in previous years, will allow the audience to hear a more colorful bouquet of jazz groups, and discuss topical jazz and art topics not only with Lithuanians.
From Wednesday, November 15, it will be possible to listen to the performers of the "Jazz Showcase" at the "Tamsta" music club. This year their diversity will be surprising: as many as 11 countries will be represented, including India, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Serbia, Romania. There are 18 collectives in the "Vitrinos" program.
"The increased interest of Lithuanians in this project, which is being prepared for the second time, is extremely pleasing. Perhaps they were inspired by the success of last year's "Vitrina": its participants received useful offers to perform abroad. The goal of the project is this - to help musicians establish contacts with foreign festival managers, club and concert hall managers," said festival director Kristijonas Bartoševičius.
This time, even six Lithuanian groups and two international ones with Lithuanian musicians will present themselves in the "Dziazo vitrina". Representatives of jazz festivals and producers from China, South Korea, Israel, United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania and other countries will listen to them.
November 15-17 the following public group auditions in the "Tamsta" club will be paid for: ticket price - from 6 EUR. (standing) up to 11 Eur. November 18 "Jazz Showcase" will move to the lobby of the Lithuanian National Drama Theater (LNDT), where everyone events will be free.
The great innovation of the 16th "Vilnius Mama Jazz" festival is the transformation of the discussion platform "Vilnius Mama Jazz paraštės" into an international conference with simultaneous translation into English. Managers of foreign festivals, jazz producers and experts will not only look for groups in the "Jazz Showcase" for their events, but will also publicly share their experience and advice with their colleagues.
November 16 and 17 the conference events will bring together jazz professionals and will take place in the Umiastovskii Palace (Trakų St. 2). Jazz festivals, art economy, the Estonian jazz phenomenon, the conquest of the Eastern jazz market will be discussed here. The discussions will be moderated by economist Rūta Vainienė, journalist Linas Kontrimas, cultural attache of Lithuania in China and South Korea Agnė Biliūnaitė, festival director K. Bartoševičius.
November 17 the conference will move to LNDT and will delve into the current affairs of Lithuanian jazz publishing and history. However, the speeches here will also be translated into English so that foreign guests can intervene.
"All conference events will be open to the general public. One of our most important goals is to expand people's horizons, to encourage them to be interested in jazz in both artistic and economic aspects. Little by little, maybe we will develop the habit of talking about it", said Julijus Grickevičius, head of the Lithuanian Jazz Federation, one of the initiators of the conference.
"Vilnius Mama Jazz Paraštes" will be broadcast live by the LRT Culture channel.
So far, no jazz conferences have been systematically organized in Lithuania and no attempts have been made to organize "Jazz showcases", so with the efforts of "Vilnius Mama Jazz" our capital is becoming an important point of jazz business in the region.
More detailed information about the festival is available on the website: http://www.vilniusmamajazz.lt/.
