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Littorina Saxophone Quartet
2.6.2023 @ 19:00 - 20:30
Villa Hakasalmi
Maria Faust, Liudas Mockūnas, Fredrik Ljungkvist ja Mikko Innanen: saxophones
Littorina Saxophone Quartet is a new creative collective of leading Baltic Sea area improvising saxophonists, Maria Faust from Estonia, Mikko Innanen from Finland, Fredrik Ljungkvist from Sweden and Liudas Mockūnas from Lithuania. Littorina is the ancient name of the sea connecting the four saxophonists and together are aiming to make music that is both ancient and new, sweet and salty, wild and calm, and pure and toxic — just like The Baltic Sea.
The main focus of Liudas Mockūnas (b. 1976 in Panevėžys, Lithuania) is in improvised and experimental music. Besides that Mockūnas performs new classical music as a soloist and chamber ensemble musician. He is one of the founders of The Lithuanian Jazz Federation, record label „NoBusiness Records“ and MA music program for free improvised music at Lithuanian Music Academy. He curates a concert series for improvised music “Improdimensija“ in Vilnius.
Stockholm-based saxophonist and clarinettist Fredrik Ljungkvist (b. 1969 in Kristinehamn, Sweden) has been one of the most active and sought after improvisers on the international scene for 34 years, appearing on over 100 jazz albums with such bands as the Swedish/Norwegian super group Atomic, Yun Kan 5 and Yun Kan 10. He is a lecturer in jazz saxophone at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
Mikko Innanen (b. 1978 in Lapinjärvi, Finland) has created a long international career as a saxophonist, improviser, composer, and band leader. Innanen is one of the main forces on the Helsinki creative music scene, cofounder of record label Fiasko Records and concert and performing arts association Hietsu is Happening!. In the 2022 DownBeat Critics Poll Innanen won the Rising Star category on baritone saxophone.
Maria Faust (b. 1979 in Kuressaare, Estonia), currently living in Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of the most celebrated jazz musicians from Estonia. She is best known for her work in the fields of experimental jazz, big band music, contemporary classical music, avant-garde, improvised music, and other alternative music styles. Faust is a multiple winner of Danish Music Awards (2014/2017/2020) and Estonian Music Awards (2023/2021). She teaches composition and improvisation at Copenhagen Rhythm Music Conservatorium.
The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden, The Finnish Music Foundation and The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike).
