Mantvydas Leonas Pranulis, an initiator of many jazz, alternative music and social projects, a group leader, presents his new trio, which gathered old comrades and like-minded people together. These musicians have repeatedly entered the VJYP stage with other bands and have won prizes in this competition.

As it happens, this year Mantvydas’ Till The Rest of This was recognized by the jury as the best original composition.

Trumpeter, pianist and composer Mantvydas Leonas Pranulis is one of the most versatile and creative musicians and improvisers of his generation. His compositions intertwine jazz and elements of classical, electronic and rock music. He is a broad-minded artist who never settles into one style of territory. However, his colourful work is united by a denominator of value, sincerity and sensitivity to the environment.

Mantvydas started his formal music education in the trumpet class at the Karoliniškės Music School, later he delved into jazz trumpet and keyboard studies at the Vilnius Conservatory and continued at the LAMT. Soon, however, the artist set out to exchange jazz for composition, which substantially expanded his soundscape.

While still studying at the music school, Pranulis received the first favourable reviews: in 2010, he won the laurels at the Classics and Jazz festival-competition of Lithuanian music and art school ensembles and in 2011, in Juozas Pakalnis Young Performers Competition. In 2015, his Brave Noises became the winner of the VJYP, and Mantvydas won the prize as the competition’s best instrumentalist. In 2017, teaming up with Allergy + in Klaipėda Jazz Festival, he won laurels in the Jazz Talents competition.

Brave Noises already has two albums; the band has performed in Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia and Estonia. In 2020, Mantvydas introduced his debut solo album.

As a composer, he collaborates intensively with theatre and film makers: he has written music for director Karolina Žernytė’s theatre production Pirmapradis (Primordial), Kamilė Gudmonaitė’s theatre production Two Koreas, Andrius Bialobžeskis’ theatre production To Valhala and other performances; collaborated with Stalo teatras (Table Theatre); is the composer of the soundtrack for Kamilė Milašiūtė’s short film Mother’s Day – the winner of the Silver Crane Award.

The musician shared the stage with many Lithuanian and foreign jazz and alternative music stars, including Kenny Wollesen, William Shore, Johnatan Haffner, Jonas Mekas, Juozas Milašius, Dalius Naujokaitis, Nina Guo, Kęstutis Vaiginis and Simonas Šipavičius.

In addition, he devotes a lot of time to social projects and pedagogical activities; together with his sister, composer Justa Pranulytė, he established a private creative school Muzikalkė.

Saxophonist and composer Kornelijus Pukinskis earned the bachelor’s degree at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, was tutored by the world-class saxophone master Tommy Smith, and collaborated with prominent musicians such as Graeme Stephen, Mario Caribe and artist Karen Strang. He performed on the Glasgow scene with the band Quark Effect.

Vilnius Jazz audience got to known him as a member of the trio SIN. In 2015, he was recognized as the composer of the best VJYP original composition. At that time, Kornelijus was submerged in various experiments and combinations of musical styles, and now he is successfully realizing himself by exploring the interrelationships between various art forms, music and science.

Drummer Dominykas Snarskis plays jazz, improvised and academic music. Often manoeuvring at the border of genres and styles he remains energetic and impulsive. The musician is closely related to both partners of the trio: he played in the group SIN, is a member of Brave Noises and Artisans, participates in interdisciplinary art projects organized by the Lithuanian Association of People with Disabilities, as well as in the camps of the music school Muzikalkė.

Dominykas is of kin to the Scottish music scene: he plays in the Quark Effect trio, in the Nevis Ensemble Orchestra, collaborates with composers Fergus Hall (The Shores), Rufus Elliot (Hellands Healands), Alex Paxton (Corn-crack Dreams); was a member of Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra and TSYJO All-Star Big Band.