Artūras Novikas’ Jazz School Vocal Ensemble JAZZ ISLAND
Leader ARTŪRAS NOVIKAS
Benjaminas Gorbulskis’ composition Bosas kviečia šokti (The Boss Invites You to Dance), songs: Dar anksti (It’s Still Early, lyrics by Petras Gaulė), Jurga, Jurgita (lyrics by Petras Gaulė), Kuršių marios (Curonian Lagoon, lyrics by Jonas Strielkūnas), Mėlynos gatvelės (Blue Streets, lyrics by Violeta Palčinskaitė), Oi, motinėle! (Oh, Mother! lyrics by Vytautas Bložė), Saulėlydis tėviškėje (Sunset in Homeland, lyrics by Nijolė Tallat-Kelpšaitė), Senosios gatvelės (Old Streets, lyrics by Violeta Palčinskaitė), Tu ateik į pasimatymą (Come on a Date, lyrics by Stasys Žlibinas), Vasaros šokis (Summer Dance, lyrics by Aleksas Dabulskis), Visiems mažiems ir dideliems (For Everyone, Young and Old, lyrics by Vytautas Bložė), Žvangutis (lyrics by Pranas Gerulaičis), Žvirbliai (Sparrows, lyrics by Antanas Saulynas); Vygandas Telksnys’ Kada meilė aplanko (When Love Comes, lyrics by Petras Gaulė); Teisutis Makačinas’ Vėjas man pasakė (The Wind Told Me, lyrics by Stasys Žlibinas); Mikalojus Novikas’ Pavasariška kelionė (Spring Journey, lyrics by Petras Gaulė), Gera (It is Good, lyrics by Antanas Saulynas); arranged and elaborated Lithuanian folk songs, jazz standards
The year 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjaminas Gorbulskis, a renowned composer, genius of pop music, and unique figure in 20th-century Lithuanian culture. The composer was known for his extraordinary personal charm and sense of humour. Among the abundance of works in various genres, songs occupy a special place – he composed over 600 of them! After the war, Gorbulskis was the first in Lithuania to start writing pop songs, which were performed as masterful works not only by pop stars of the time, but also by rising opera stars. His songs, popular for decades and performed by several generations of singers, remain timeless today.
Composer and performer Artūras Novikas and his jazz school’s vocal ensemble Jazz Island invite to honour Gorbulskis’ talent and, in the words of the evening’s hero, ‘smile.’ It is a professional group of young people, winners of various competitions, representing Lithuania around the world. Jazz Island sings music of various genres in polyphonic a cappella – from jazz and folk music of different nations to classical works and songs popular in Lithuania and around the world. This time, Jazz Island invites to revisit the songs of Gorbulskis and his younger colleagues – renowned composers Teisutis Makačinas, Mikalojus Novikas, and Vygandas Telksnys. Like a colourful meadow, these songs will sparkle with a variety of hues and moods.
Free admission
