One of the most prominent French jazz pianists of her generation will perform in Vilnius - together with Viktorija Gečyte, who is already well-known on the Lithuanian jazz scene.

French pianist Fred Nardin is one of the most sought-after musicians of his generation, winner of the Django Reinhardt Prize from the French Jazz Academy for French jazz musician of the year, and winner of the Victoires du Jazz award for best band of the year, the French equivalent of jazz's Grammys, with his own orchestra, the Amazing Keystone Big Band, which has performed with artists such as Quincy Jones, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Gregory Porter. Fred was also the musical director for pop star Pascal Obispo's tour. This year, the French Ministry of Culture awarded him the title of Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

In Vilnius, he will be heard in an intimate trio format, with Viktoras Nybergas playing double bass (born in Stockholm, studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, the University of North Texas and the Paris Conservatory CNSM, today one of the leading names in the Parisian jazz scene), and Romain Sarronas on drums (co-founder of the Amazing Keystone Big Band, who studied with American drummers Herlin Riley and Kenny Washington). The group's 2025 album "Trio +" was described by French critics as music that sounds "restrained, without excess, but full of soul", equally convincing in its original work, reworked standards and unexpected surprises - for example, when the electronic music hit "Nightcall" (Kavinsky, soundtrack to the film Drive) turns into a jazz ballad.

Their guest will be Viktorija Gečytė – sometimes called „a jazz performer without borders”, and not without reason: born in Lithuania, educated in the USA, living in Paris, she has been bringing Lithuanian jazz to foreign stages for almost two decades (USA, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Morocco, Tunisia), and was twice a finalist in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in the USA. The French cultural weekly Télérama wrote that when listening to her, „it is hard to believe that [Viktoria] did not spend her childhood in New York jazz clubs”. All About Jazz praised her voice, „warm, velvety, gently rounded, never heavy”, supported by a sense of storytelling in which „timing, nuances and restraint create the quiet power of music”. This year, she became the second woman to win the Grand Prix in the 45-year history of the Birštonas Jazz Festival (after Neda Malūnavičiūtė) – the jury praised her „for her spontaneity, playfulness, nurturing of Lithuanian heritage and loyalty to jazz standards”. It is like a homecoming award for a voice that has spent most of her career on stages outside Lithuania. Viktorija’s 2025 album „Mother”, whose title and inspiration comes from a poem by Jonas Mekas, was released together with American double bassist Gene Perla – a long-time companion who has played with artists such as Elvin Jones, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan and Sonny Rollins. This is their fourth joint recording.

Whether you're looking for a virtuoso and inspiring program or just a warm and swinging mood, this evening will be full of memorable moments.

The first 40 tickets are cheaper.

“Jazz Cellar 11” klubo dainyklos projektą iš dalies finansuoja Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė.