Boundless, timeless and mystical. That’s how music of Yuri Honing Wired Paradise is described. It welcomes you to a mysterious reality, where one hears and feels the influences of the many journeys these musicians have made, the people they have met, the cities they have visited and the landscapes that have surrounded them. The group formed several years ago on a basis of Yuri Honing Trio – one of the most successful groups on Dutch jazz scene.

In Yuri Honing Wired Paradise, the trio was joined by two electric guitar players from different backgrounds – avant-garde jazz and rock. The new formation follows Yuri Honing Trio’s creative path searching for universal music language, which brings into play vocabulary of jazz, rock, avant-garde, electronic and world music. The critics consider this fusion to be unique and give Yuri Honing Wired Paradise the highest ratings in major music journals.

However, the original line-up included German avant-garde guitarist Frank Möbus. The Vilnius audience also will not meet Yuri Honing Trio’s long-time bassist Tony Overwater.

For years Dutch saxophonist Yuri Honing has been considered one of the main representatives of European jazz. Album Star Tracks (1996) caused his international breakthrough – Honing built a unique personal style, based on jazz, pop and non-western musical traditions. Since then, he has been on a wish list of international jazz coryphées.

He has played and recorded with Misha Mengelberg. Their album Playing was nominated for Edison Jazz Award (Dutch Grammy). Later in New York, Yuri Honing recorded album Seven featuring Paul Blay, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, which garnered Edison Jazz Award. He also recorded with Paul Blay and Charlie Haden in the Netherlands, appeared in North Sea Jazz Festival with Pat Metheny and Scott Colley.

Yuri Honing plays in chamber formations and large projects. He has collaborated with The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vince Mendoza and The Metropole Orchestra. The saxophonist tried his hand in classical music. He is fond of Bjork, Iggy Pop, Goldfrapp and Radiohead. Many of Yuri Honing Wired Paradise compositions are inspired by recent masterworks from Hollywood.

This is Yuri Honing’s second visit to Lithuania – in spring Yuri Honing Acoustic Quartet appeared in ARTscape, a part of the national program Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009.

Stef van Es plays both jazz and rock music. Paul Jan Bakker made his name in projects with Dutch pop-groups and soloists including Kane, Anouk and rockers Seven.

Mark Haanstra graduated from Hilversum and Amsterdam Conservatoires, and honed his skills in India. As a member of various groups he won several competitions.

In addition to Yuri Honing Wired Paradise, the bassist works with Belgian jazz septet T-unit 7, alternative pop music group Voer and The New Generation Big Band. He also plays in trio Agog; with colleagues he formed Oxymore Quintet. He writes music for both groups.

Mark Haanstra is a sought-after musician by many collectives – from contemporary academic music ensembles to orchestras. His repertoire includes works written especially for him.

He can be heard on over 30 CDs. In recent years, he toured in the USA, South America, Africa, India and around Europe.

Joost Lijbaart is one of the most creative drummers in the Netherlands. He graduated from Hilversum Conservatoire and studied African percussion in Senegal.

The musician had a shot at various projects – from pop and improvised music to contemporary academic music and dance. He has collaborated with such composers as Theo Loevendie and Louis Andriessen, choreographers Anouk van Dijk and Lonneke van Leth.

Joost Lijbaart received “the best drummer award” in the 15th Europe Jazz Contest, where he appeared with Nicholas Thys Trio. In 2002, with trio Agog he was voted “the best soloist” in the Dutch Jazz Contest. Beside the aforementioned groups, Joost Lijbaart works with Yuri Honing Trio, Michiel Borstlap Sextet, and jazz-rock group White House. In 2002, the drummer formed his own quartet Group of Friends, for which he also writes music.