Emeritus: Petras Vyšniauskas - saxophones, piano | Vytautas Labutis - saxophones | Eugenijus Kanevičius - double bass | Arkadijus Gotesmanas - percussion
About Emeritus: "...the main stars of this concert and, perhaps, the entire festival went on stage – Petras Vyšniauskas, Vytautas Labutis, Eugenijus Kanevičius, and Arkadijus Gotesmanas with the project 'Toast'. This collective, full of improvisational freedom, continues to delight and amaze. Few may have heard Eugenijus Kanevičius singing or Petras Vyšniauskas playing the piano, but they do it excellently. It was also very interesting to see Arkadijus Gotesmanas with such a modest percussive arsenal. At this festival, it was a unique experience to hear the ensemble perform three encores." (Algirdas Klova)
The project 'Emeritus' consisting of four Lithuanian jazz grands – saxophonists Petras Vyšniauskas and Vytautas Labutis, double bassist Eugenijus Kanevičius, and percussionist Arkadijus Gotesmanas, arrived at the Music Magic Club in Vilnius Old Town on March 20th. 'Since we formed the quartet, the talking stopped – we play and play. Each time it’s different, innovative. That’s just who we are,' say the famous musicians and good friends.
One of Lithuania's most famous saxophonists, Petras Vyšniauskas, explains what 'Emeritus' means to him: 'It’s a quartet of experienced jazzmen who have been through fire and water. All are excellent musicians, and it’s a great comfort to play with them.' Renowned double bassist and composer Eugenijus Kanevičius adds, 'We have known each other for a long time, we’re almost of the same age, so there’s not much need to talk – everything is clear without words, we communicate in music.'
The instigator behind the quartet's creation is percussion virtuoso Arkadijus Gotesmanas: 'The 'Emeritus' project was born during the pandemic. It used to be said that those over sixty have a different status and possibilities. I thought to myself: we're all over sixty, but we certainly haven’t slowed down, we are very creative and active. I thought: the four of us could combine our ideas and share them. We played and felt that we have a lot to convey to the listeners.'
The quartet was named by the well-known saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer Vytautas Labutis. 'Why 'Emeritus'? There is a bit of irony there. Or maybe not. After all, what is an emeritus? A respected retiree. We’re not saying: respect us now. No. We leave it to the audience to decide if they respect us,' he smiles.
Since its formation, the quartet has performed extensively, appeared at 'Vilnius Mama Jazz', Birstonas Summer Music, Utena Percussion and Jazz Festivals. 'I'm very thankful to the Music Magic Club for hosting not just one but three of our concerts, as these days it's risky to invite musicians to such small spaces.
'Our genre is such – we communicate in music among ourselves and with the listeners. Music isn’t fixed in compositions or notes, but it exists in our experience, which we also share. I have students – older, younger, who sometimes say, “Teacher, I would come to your concert, but tell me, will it be good, surprising?” I reply that I don’t know because I am an improviser. It will be as it is at that moment,' smiles V. Labutis.
As all the quartet members say: "concert programs are born 'here and now,' and at the end not a period is placed, but rather a semicolon."