36th Vilnius Jazz Festival. 12-16 October, 2022

Baby Trio feat. Juozas Kuraitis

Baby Trio feat. Juozas Kuraitis (Greece / Lithuania):

George Kontrafouris - o;
Alexandros Vichos - g;
Vangelis Kotzabassis - dr;
& Juozas Kuraitis - saxes.

In it's music “Baby Trio”, one of the most energetic Greek jazz groups, combines jazz tradition and post-rock elements.

Founded in 2007, the ensemble unites three young colleagues – organist and composer George Kotrafouris (the founder), guitarist Alexandros Vichos and drummer Vangelis Kotzabassis. The Trio’s motto is to convey the teenage enthusiasm and idealism before “normal life” curbs it.

George Kontrafouris (b. 1967) studied classical piano at the National Conservatoire in Athens, later graduated as a jazz musician from the J. Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki (Finland).

For several years he has taught jazz pianists and organists at the Corfu Ionian University, the National Conservatoire in Athens and the J. Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki. Kontrafouris has led master classes in Greece, Ireland, Indonesia and Estonia.

As a member of “Page One”, “Exit” and “Houston Pearson Quartet” Kontrafouris collaborated with a number of celebrated musicians including Bob Brozman, Clara Cook, Wayne Dockery, Stepko Gut, Marc McDonald, Markus Stockhausen, Andy Shepard, and Louisiana Red.

The organist also worked with David Liebman, Benny Golson, Tim Hagans, Eric Alexander, David Sills, Lou Donaldson, Jamie Hadad, Deborah Davies, Sheila Jordan, Jukkis Uotila, and Wade Mikkola among many other Finnish and Greek musicians.

Kontrafouris has recorded four personal albums, and thirty CDs as a sideman.

Juozas Kuraitis got acquainted with Greek musicians while studying in the J. Sibelius Academy.

The saxophonist received Master Degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (2008). He was a prize winner in J. Pakalnis Young Performers’ Competition (1999) and jazz competitions in Nida (2004), “Jazz Hope” (2005) and “Vilnius Jazz Young Power” (2006, 2007).

Kuraitis has collaborated with Artūras Anusauskas, Dmitry Golovanov, Vytis Nivinskas and Darius Rudis among other Lithuanian jazzmen, was a member of “In Culto”, appeared with Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra and its Quartet. Currently he plays in “Sax Fix”.

As a member of various formations Kuraitis took part in almost all jazz festivals in Lithuania, contemporary music festival “Gaida”, and the Great Parade of Musicians.

Vilnius Jazz'2008

LMTA Big Band

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Joelle Leandre & Vladimir Tarasov Project

France / Lithuania

Baby Trio feat. Juozas Kuraitis

Greece / Lithuania

Baltic Jazz Trio

Lithuania / Latvia / Estonia

SXQ

Japan

Charles Gayle Trio

USA

David Murray Black Saint Quartet

USA

J.Haffner / J.Milašius / D.Naujokaitis

USA / Lithuania

Saga

Lithuania

 
Vilnius Jazz Extra Line

Kruzenshtern & Parohod

Israel

 
Vilnius Jazz Young Power 2008

Valentina Jaronskaja Quartet

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Rūta Švipaitė Quartet

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Beatričė Baltrušaitytė Project

Lithuania

 
Vilnius Jazz Young Power 2008 Guests

Vertical

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Leonard Standards Trio

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Jazz2O

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