Dainius Pulauskas (b. 1960), a talented pianist, keyboard player and outstanding band leader, plays an important role in the Lithuanian jazz scene. His compositions have been a key factor in the success of his groups. They are eloquent tone poems that can be played on both acoustic and electronic instruments, and they are filled with Northern serenity as well as romantic moods. Jan Patterson, jazz critic, describes this group as “The Dainius Pulauskas Group” (October 10, 2011, All About Jazz). He says that the group’s unique combination of melody, muscle, lyricism, and the unexpected places it firmly in the forefront of progressive European Jazz-fusion. and that the group leader is “pianist/keyboardist Pulauskas, along with his colleagues, makes the best possible fusion. Their musical expressions are diverse and overwhelming. You will be captivated by their soaring swings and rhythms. It’s pure, raw jazz. The group’s leader, Pulauskas, and his colleagues are great arrangers. There is always room for improvisation in their carefully planned arrangements. (…) “It’s been a long time since I heard such talented Jazz masters,” writes Bo Levender, a Swedish reviewer. Born in Vievis, Dainius Pulauskas learned to play the piano and the violin at the local music school for children. He studied piano at Vilnius Conservatory as well as the Lithuanian Academy of Music. He was still a student and won the 1980 Piano Improvisation Competition. He began playing with Oktava’s orchestra in 1981. He has toured many countries with Oktava and also tried his hand at composing and arranging. The pianist was first to appear on the jazz stage in 1990 with Skirmantas Sasnauskas Quartet. Pulauskas has performed alongside many foreign and Lithuanian jazz musicians. Dainius Pulauskas has presented solo programs occasionally and released the solo album Moods (2000). His performances have been recorded by international jazz festivals, including the Piano Stars Festival Liepaja in Latvia in 1991 and the International Jazz Pianists Festival Prague 2001. Pulauskas performs with Arkady Shilkloper (horn), Valery Ramoska (trumpeter), and Veronika Piovilioniene (folk singer). He is part of the Lithuanian Radio and Television Jazz Group. D. Pulauskas was invited by the Baltic Jazz Trio to represent Lithuania in 2008. The “Baltic Jazz Trio” features the best jazz musicians from three Baltic countries – Maris Briezkalns, Toivo Unt, and Toivo Briezkalns, both from Latvia. He has been the leader and composer of his Dainius Pulauskas Group since 1995. D.P.G. has been around for many years. Participated in numerous prestigious European, Asian and African jazz festivals. Numerous awards have been presented to the musician in recognition of his merits. He was the only jazz musician to be awarded the Bravo Award in 1998 as the best Lithuanian jazzman. His arrangement of John Lennon’s and Paul McCartney’s song “Yesterday”, won the Grand Prix of the Yesterday Parnu International Competition, Estonia in 1999. He was awarded the Birstonas Jazz Festival Grand Prize in 2000. The Dainius Pulauskas sextet received the Gold Disc award from the Lithuanian Musicians Union in 2001 and the LT Identity award from the Lithuanian Institute in 2004, acknowledging their contributions to the promotion of Lithuanian jazz. “Vilnius Jazz Festival Award for contributions to Lithuanian jazz culture (Lithuania 2010, (c) Jurate KUCINSKITE from http://www.mic.lt
