29th Vilnius Jazz Festival

Founded in 1987, Vilnius Jazz is the oldest annual jazz festival held in Vilnius. It is an exceptional event in Lithuania, providing a broad perspective on contemporary trends in jazz from all over the world. Over the years Vilnius Jazz has earned a reputation of a radical avant-garde festival oriented towards novelty and limit-stretching creativity. The stylistic boundaries of jazz and free improvised music are often crossed and expanded here by offering joint projects with musicians from the academic, ethnic, rock and industrial music backgrounds. The International Vilnius Jazz Festival is renowned for its creative and ambitious programmes featuring some of the biggest names on the international jazz scene alongside the best of Lithuanian talent.

Attracting an audience of around 5000 each year, Vilnius Jazz has played a formative role for several generations of jazz fans. It has also to its credit helped develop local players who have then moved onto performing in other European venues and international jazz groups. Recognised as one of the most important signposts in Eastern Europe, Vilnius Jazz remains devoted to nurturing and promoting the living tradition of improvised music in Lithuania.

The coming 29th edition of the International Vilnius Jazz Festival will be held on 12-16 October.

More info and program: www.vilniusjazz.lt