Mockūno NuClear made its debut in Birštonas Jazz 2010, but these musicians have been playing together for several years in various bands including Saga Quartet.

Mockūno NuClear plays original compositions by the leader and the keyboardist exploring the landscape of jazz, free improvisation, heavy rock and even punk.

This concert is some kind of a dress rehearsal before Mockūno NuClear’s appearance in London Jazz Festival with British trioVD. This project continues the collaboration of Vilnius Jazz and London Jazz Festival launched in Vilnius last year.

Mockūno NuClear will treat Vilnius jazz aficionados with a special program featuring Danish sound artist, composer and improviser Jakob Riis.

Reed virtuoso and composer Liudas Mockūnas is one of the leading figures in Lithuanian contemporary jazz and improvised music.

He graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LAMT) and the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. Currently, he is on a faculty at the LAMT where he leads the Big Band. He regularly takes part in diverse international jazz projects.

Mockūnas is a co-leader of various international collectives such as Pasborg-Mockunas Toxikum, electro-acoustic trio Red Planet and Lithuanian Saga Quartet, a member of Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Pasborg’s Odessa 5 and Vladimir Tarasov Trio. He has collaborated with Pierre Dorge and his New Jungle Orchestra, played as a duo with Marc Ducret and Ryoji Hojito.

The reed champion also works with Jacob Anderskov, Nils Davidsen, Vladimir Chekasin, Arkady Gotesman, Mats Eilertsen, Mark Solborg, Dietrich Eichmann and Jaak Sooaar. He has performed with Andrew Hill’s Jazz Par octet, Mikko Innanen Inkvisitio, Burry Guy, Mats Gustaffsson, Ibrahim Electric and trioVD.

Mockūnas is famed not only as an exponent of improvised music and avant-garde jazz, but also as an expert of contemporary academic music. His repertoire includes works by academic music composers including Bronius Kutavičius, Anatolijus Šenderovas, Arvydas Malcys, Vyacheslav Ganelin, Dietrich Eichmann, Vykintas Baltakas and Giedrius Puskunigis.

The saxophonist is a member of contemporary music ensemble Gaida, has performed with the Lithuanian State and Lithuanian National symphony orchestras, as well as St.Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra and Chordos String Quartet.

With various collectives Mockūnas has toured in Europe, the USA and China.

He is a prize winner of competitions in Lithuania, Latvia and France; a recipient of Vilnius Jazz and Birštonas Jazz prizes for contribution to Lithuanian jazz.

Dmitrij Golovanov, one of the most striking Lithuanian jazz keyboardists of younger generation, is at ease in a wide range of styles – from traditional and free jazz to experimental electronic music.

The keyboardist graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and honed his skills at the Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy College of Music and Theatre in Leipzig. He has been active on Lithuanian jazz scene for more than a decade.

Golovanov was the prize winner at the National Young Jazz Performers’ Competition (2001); as a member of Jazz Pictures he earned second prize at the Young Jazz Performers’ Competition in Vilnius (2002); was awarded third prize at the International Piano Improvisation Competition in Vilnius (2006); received Grand Prix at the Vilnius Jazz Young Power competition (2007); garnered Grand Prix at the International Piano Improvisation Competition in Vilnius (2008).

The musician has collaborated with a number of Lithuanian jazz masters, brothers Briliai (Russia), Annie Kierulff and Anders Andersson (Denmark). Golovanov works with Riot, Saga, and Magic Mushrooms, as well as international collectives Beat Freisen Spelunkenorchester and Herbie Kopf Quartet.

With various formations he performed in Finland, Greece, Germany, Spain, Georgia, the Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia.

Marijus Aleksa made his jazz debut in 1999 at the age thirteen. He is a winner of several national jazz competitions. In 2007, he won first prize at the Baltic States’ Drummers Competition.

He appeared in almost all jazz festivals in Lithuania, performed in Norway, Poland, Austria, the USA, UK and Italy.

Aleksa has collaborated with Herbie Kopf, Roberto Manzin, Robin Aristoren, Grant Windsor, Femi Temowo and trioVD as well as many Lithuanian jazz masters including Vladimir Chekasin, Vladimir Tarasov, Vytautas Labutis, Petras Vyšniauskas and Dainius Pulauskas.

The drummer also plays soul and hip-hop music; is a member of Saga Quartet, D’Orange, BrassBastardz and a co-leader of Aleksa Brothers Group.

Since 2008, he has resided in London where he has worked with various jazzmen in jazz clubs.

Jakob Riis is a seasoned sound artist, composer and improviser. He co-operates with a number of groups, is active in the experimental fields of electronic music and sonic web art.

Riis collaborates with projects like Copenhagen Art Ensemble, An auf, Toxikum and Expanded Botanics, is a member of Riis and the Smooth ones, Hindi + Riis, Red Planet, The Ghettoblaster Ensemble and The Minijacks laptop quartet.

As a composer and performer he works with Alarm112, ATAGS, Den 3. Vej's Kammerensemble, Ensemble New, Randers Byorkester, choreographer Anne Katrine Kallmoes, Bidt performance theatre, Hans Fjellestad, Lotte Anker, Peter Ole Jorgensen, Philipp Wachsmann, Pierre Dorge and other prominent musicians.

Riis has appeared in many jazz festivals, Ssshhhhh… sound biennale in Copenhagen and Roskilde Festival.