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, Japan, USA, Canada and Africa.
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.
The group was awarded GRAND PRIX in “Yesterday - Pärnu ‘99” (Estonia)
D.Pulauskas got “BRAVO” nomination as the best jazz player in Lithuania in 1998.
D. Pulauskas was awarded GRAND PRIX in “Birštonas Jazz’ 2000” (Lithuania).
The group was awarded GOLD DISC 2001 (Lithuanian Musicians Union).
Award LT TAPATYBĖ 2004 (LT IDENTITY) Dainius Pulauskas sextet for the promotion of Lithuanian Jazz.
“Vilnius Jazz” festival Award for contributions to the Lithuanian jazz culture. (Lithuania 2010).
The main festivals:
“Tokyo Jazz Festival 2014” (Japan), “ Izmir European Jazz Festival 2014“(Turkey), “London Jazz Festival 2013“ (U.K.), "Bratislava Jazz Days 2013" (Slovakia), "Garana Jazz Festival 2013" (Romania), "Ottawa Jazz Festival 2013" (Canada), “Cape Town Jazz Festival 2013” (Republic of South Africa), “Cairo Jazz Festival 2013” (Egypt), "Acacia Festival 2012" (Ethiopia), “Hong Kong International Jazz Festival 2011” (China), “Penang Island Jazz Festival 2009” (Malaysia), “Big Band Jam Festival 2007” (Washington, USA), “Jakarta Jazz Festival 2007” (Indonesia), “Kristianstad Jazz Festival 2006” (Sweden), ”Jazzy colors”, (2005, Paris, France), "Sibiu Jazz" (2005, Romania), "Oslo Jazz" (2004), "Stockholm Jazz Festival" (2002), "Copenhagen Jazz Festival" (2002), "JazzYatra" (2001, India), "Beijing, Shanghai and Changchun International Jazz Festival" (1999, China), "JazzBaltica" (1998, Salzau, Germany) and more.
The leader of the Group, the keyboarder and composer Dainius Pulauskas http://www.mic.lt/en/persons/info/180 is one of the most significant contemporary Lithuanian jazz musicians. His original compositions are the guaranty of the uniqueness of the Group.
The pianist graduated from Vilnius Conservatoire and the Lithuanian Academy of Music, where in 1980 he won the Piano Improvisation Contest. D.Pulauskas had toured a lot all over the World with the Oktava Orchestra, in which he played from 1981 and from 1990 he is a regular jazz performer. D.Pulauskas has collaborated with a number of Lithuanian and foreign jazz musicians. From 1995 he has been a leader of Dainius Pulauskas Group. D.Pulauskas was very successful to gather one of the most prominent Lithuanian jazz bands, which performs only the leader's pieces.
D. Pulauskas, who is a distinct leader and unique composer, is also distinguished as a prominent piano soloist. This witnesses his solo album Moods (2000) as well as excellent solo concerts given during an international jazz pianist festivals. D.Pulauskas 's way of composition 'thinking' is very original and intriguing; the musician is an excellent master of piano techniques and electronic instruments, his music space is colourful, and he is excellent at harmonious tuning of acoustic an electronic timbres.
2008 D. Pulauskas and significant horn player Arkady Shilkloper formed quartet, whose debut concert was held in Birštonas Jazz Festival. In the same year, D. Pulauskas was invited to represent Lithuania in the “Baltic Jazz Trio”, which plays the most prominent jazz musicians from the three Baltic countries - Maris Briežkalns from Latvia, and Toivo Unt from Estonia ttp://www.myspace.com/balticjazztrio
For his activities D.Pulauskas received a number of different awards, including the one and only Bravo award granted for Lithuanian jazz, which in 1998 D.Pulauskas received as the best Lithuanian jazz musician; in 1999 the version of John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's Yesterday that D.Pulauskas arranged and performed together with his sextet and Neda was granted the Grand Prix of an International Yesterday - Pärnu'99 Contest (Estonia); in 2000 the musician was awarded the Grand Prix of Birštonas Jazz Festival, and in 2001 D.Pulauskas and his Sextet received the Golden Disc of Lithuanian Music Association . Award LT Tapatybė 2004( LT Identity ) Dainius Pulauskas Jazz sextet for the promotion of Lithuanian jazz. “Vilnius Jazz” festival Award for contributions to the Lithuanian jazz culture (Lithuania 2010).
The trumpeter Valerijus Ramoška http://www.mic.lt/en/persons/info/ramoska regularly performs together with D.Pulauskas's ensembles from 1994. The musician plays jazz from 1990, and currently he is one of the best Lithuanian jazz trumpet masters. Besides D.Pulauskas Sextet V.Ramoška plays together with E.Buožis', D.Praspaliauskis', V.Labutis', V.Chekasin's, V.Tarasov's, P.Vyšniauskas's, S.Sasnauskas's, etc. ensembles; he is a soloist of the LRT Big Band. V.Ramoška teaches in Vilnius Conservatoire.
Kęstutis Vaiginis http://www.kestutisvaiginis.com/ http://www.mic.lt/en/persons/info/177 is a seasoned jazz musician of younger generation, active as a saxophonist, composer and group leader. His characteristic sound (produced on soprano and tenor saxophones, sometimes also on flute) is clear and delicate, lyrical and emotional. He began playing jazz in 1999 and instantly became an indispensable part of Lithuanian jazz scene, performing both in his own age group and with experienced jazz masters. He soon began appearing in international collaborations. Having polished his technique in the Netherlands, Amsterdam Conservatorium and United States, Manhattan School of Music. Vaiginis has formed several international groups and composed for them. Kestutis Vaiginis performed in one of the biggest jazz festivals in Lithuania and Europe ( Nord Sea Jazz, Breda Jazz, Kiev Jazz, Colors Jazz in Paris, Roterdam jazz festivals and others). He usually performs his original compositions, which combine certain national tones and the elements of modern jazz and academic music. He recorded new his album " Unexpected Choices" in New York, with great artist like D.Berkman, A.Hunter, H.Romero, Linda Oh, T.GreenBlatt.
Liutauras Janušaitis multi - instrumentalist , producer , arranger ,composer,conductor and educator,one of the top saxophonists of Eastern Europe and Baltic States.These are the music fields this artist has been working at recently. Mr.Liutauras is a leader and composer of projects such as "BALTIC SALSA ORCHESTRA ", jazz quintet "CERTAIN CASE", electro-acoustic experimental band "LJ ELECTROBOP " to name a few. In 2007 Mr.Liutauras became a member of contemporary fusion band "D'Orange" which consists of top young jazz musicians of Lithuania. As a soloist in other projects or with bands named above he has made concert tours to Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Baltic States and has also performed in U.S.A, Russia and Japan as well. The artist also constantly arranges and records for various rock, r&b and pop projects and often takes part in many international festivals of jazz and contemporary music. As a composer,he usually works in the field of electronic music, but has done remarkable works for acoustic instruments as well, including music for piano, various chamber ensembles, saxophone quartets. Mr.Liutauras is a very first Lithuanian musician ever graduated from Berklee College of Music ( Boston , USA ) .Right after his graduation he recorded a debut album “ ECLECTIC SKETCHES ” in New York City.The artist is now working on his second release “ TWO SIDES OF THE MOON “,in a collaboration with strings orchestra "Avanti" and various musicians from Scandinavian countries. Mr.Liutauras now also works as a prime conductor and artistic director of Kaunas City Bigband , he's a president of public-enterprise " International Creative Projects" producing collaborative projects between Lithuanian and foreign artists.In a production field this artist is known under LIAM JOAO nickname ,his remixes have won several awards at Robert Glasper’s or record label’s “Jazzanova” remix contests.
Domas Aleksa http://domasaleksa.com/ (born in 1983) is one of the best bass guitar player in Lithuania. He is a winer of many competitions in Baltic States and has collaborated with plenty of Lithuanian jazz and pop bands and artists. In 2012 D. Aleksa realised his 1-st solo album called ''Domas Aleksa & dÓrange" (featuring Roberto Manzin, Gaio De Lima, Xuman, and many Lithuanian jazz musicians).
D. Aleksa and his band has supported for Roy Ayers Band, Poogie Bell Band. Playing as a sideman in pop bands he has supported for "Black Eyed Peas", "Simply Red", "Macy Gray" and "Avril Lavigne". D. Aleksa has also played with Philip Hamilton and Otis Taylor Band.
The drummer Linas Būda is a member of Lithuanian TV and Radio Big Band. He takes part at various Jazz projects. Linas Būda began to play Jazz in 1987 and played in Jazz festivals all around Europe, Asia and USA.
