Thanks to experienced jazz music enthusiasts, their aspirations, and ambitiousness a Jazz Orchestra came to life in Panevėžys, Northern Lithuania.
The best musicians from Northern Lithuania - each unique in their own way, demonstrate their best by improvising and playing solo. The “Pan Big Band” members are graduates from the Jazz and Wind Departments of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Klaipėda Faculty. The Jazz Orchestra is led by the saxophonist and educator Arūnas Viduolis.
The Jazz Orchestra is still pursuing for its uniqueness. Nevertheless, it is already creating programs in collaboration with a large number of Lithuanian jazz performers, such as Rūta Švipaitė, Vytautas Grubliauskas, Kristina Jatautaitė, Dominykas Vyšniauskas, and others. The variety of composition styles - swing, jazz latino, fusion, and soul are included into the Orchestra’s program. It performs well-known hits by Jeff Jarvis, Mark Taylor, Scott Ninmer, Don Menza, Lee Morgan, Scott Regsdale, Paul Jennings, and Mike Kamuf.
The “Pan Big Band” will play at the Salkruosti Jazz Festival 2025 with the charismatic Kristina Jatautaitė – a jazz vocalist recognized both in Lithuania and internationally. Her distinctive voice, elegant and emotional performance create a unique atmosphere by drawing every listener into the magics of music. She has performed on prestigious stages in Europe and around the world, as well as collaborated with well-known jazz musicians and orchestras.
“Pan Big Band” participates in various jazz events and festivals:
- International Youth Jazz Competition-Festival “Jazz Fontanas 2022‘‘;
- International Festival “Šiauliai Jazz 2022“;
- International Festival “Panevėžys Jazz 2022‘‘;
- International Jazz Day, Panevėžys 2023;
- Big Band Festival, Šiauliai 2023;
- Jazz Festival, Linkuva 2023;
- Jazz Festival, Jonava 2023;
- International Jazz Day, Panevėžys 2024;
- Blues and Jazz Festival, Elektrėnai 2024;
- International Jazz Day, Panevėžys 2025.