One of the most active Spanish jazz drummers Marc Ayza formed this unorthodox group in 2008 with an aim to combine jazz and hip hop. That is drummer’s ‘natural habitat’, where he is able to project his special knack for rhythm, as well as musicality and hypnotising element.

Marc’s group plays genuine and involving music, spontaneously jazzy and full of allusions into styles of black music icons such as Gil Scott Heron to Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, John Coltrane to J Dilla and modern hip hop.

Offering, the group’s first album released in 2008, received enthusiastic reception from both critics and audience alike. Indeed, the featured compositions fascinate with concord and ability to weave improvisational elements from the tiniest details. Similar spirit is present in this year’s Live at Home.

Born in Barcelona, Marc Ayza has been actively performing on Spanish scene for a decade. He has worked with Raynal Colomo, Perico Sameato and Victor de Diego groups, collaborated with foreign coryphées such as Antonio Hart, Mulgrew Miller, Sheila Jordan, Steve Kuhn, Seamus Blake, etc.

Currently, the drummer leads Beat’a’Boom, project involving DJ Helios and rapper BluRum 13, whom we will hear in “Vilnius Jazz”.

Born in New York, rapper BluRum 13 has a style that seems to be the perfect blend of all his influences. He has lent his talents to such groups as Us3, One Self, Reverse Engineering, Bullfrog, the Russian Percussion, Resin Dogs, Ez3kiel, Groundworks, True Ingredients, Funginears among others. Passion seems to be in working with a range of sound, teaming up with such producers and Deejay’s as Dj Vadim, Luke Vibert, Grandtheft aka GT, Kid Koala, Ben Mono, Miss Ill and PM.

His partners included such celebrities as Herbie Hancock, Maceo Parker, DJ Primere, Prince Paul, Dingable Planets, KRS 1, Atmosphere, Slum Village, De La Soul, The Fugees, Mark Ronsen, DJ A-trak, Wu Tang Clan, Mike Ladd and Saul Williams.