News

10 and 11 February, 2010. Leonid Shinkarenko, an acoustic and electric bass virtuoso, and his band Jazz 4 are appearing at 606 club on 10th February and at Charlie Wrights International on 11th February. Next to the leader of the band Leonid Shinkarenko, the concert features one of the best jazz trumpet players in Lithuania Valerijus Ramoška, pianist 'one man orchestra' Dainius Pulauskas and the drummer Linas Būda. The concert is presented in collaboration with the Lithuanian Embassy in London, Star 1 airlines and Lithuanian weekly Londono žinios.

Leonid Shinkarenko (b. 1957), is a cornerstone figure in Lithuanian jazz. During his 25 year career, he has collaborated with numerous musicians from different styles of jazz, and has participated in recording around 60 albums. For five years running the critics‘ polls of the former USSR have ranked him among the top bass players. His performing style is marked by deep feeling and melodic sensitivity; as a composer he is especially well known for his ballads.

His impressive jazz career started in 1981, when he played with the Quartet of Vladimir Chekasin, his mentor. From 1982 to 1989 the bassist was a member of the legendary Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet; later on he performed with the quintet Gone With Jazz, the Vilnius Jazz Quartet and the Lithuanian Art Orchestra. The scale of his creative interests is exemplified by his collaborations with the Indian music ensemble Svara (2001) and the Vilnius Percussionists (2003).

In 1997 he made his debut as a leader by releasing an album of his compositions Sagittarius. It was recorded by the group Leonid Shinkarenko Jazz 4, which he subsequently transformed into a quintet and then into a septet. In 2001 the Shinkarenko band released the album Le Bolero and in 2004 – Remembrance in Jazz, dedicated to the celebrated American-Lithuanian tennis player Vitas Gerulaitis.

Leonid Shinkarenko has performed with different groups on many European stages and has been featured by such festivals as Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw (1987, with the Petras Vyšniauskas Quartet), Varna Jazz Festival in Bulgaria (1992, with the Vytautas Labutis Quartet) and others.

Recently he can be heard mainly with his own groups and the Lithuanian Jazz Trio, whose contribution to promoting Lithuanian jazz was recognized by the LT Identity award of the Lithuanian Institute in 2004. He has performed with the Lithuanian Jazz Trio at the Jazz Expo in Genoa, Italy (2004), and the International Music Fair MIDEM in Cannes, France (2005).

Leonid Shinkarenko is also involved in educational activities. He started the annual Nida Jazz Marathon in Lithuania that has evolved into the Nida Jazz Festival, which takes place in one of the most beautiful sea-side resorts in Europe.

Concert organized in collaboration with the Lithuanian Embassy in London, 606 Club, Charlie Wrights International, sponsored by Star 1 airlines and Lithuanian weekly Londono žinios.

10 February, 7 pm, 606 Club,  90 Lots Road London, SW10 0QD. Tickets: £10. Bookings accepted by phone 020 7352 5953 and e-mail  jazz@606club.co.uk.

11 February, 8 pm, Charlie Wrights International, 45 Pitfield Street, Hoxton, London N1 6DA. Tickets: £10, Tel: 020 7490 8345.