ARVYDAS KAZLAUSKAS is one of the leading saxophone players in Latvia, characterised by an unrelenting creative curiosity, often crossing the boundaries of academic genres, which results in striking experimental music projects. Nominated for the Latvian Grand Music Award 2017 in the category Musician of the Year.

 

Arvydas has given solos with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Latvian State Chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga, Vilnius City Municipality St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, and the Sinfonia Concertante orchestra. He has performed as a chamber musician and a soloist in Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Israel, Italy, Ireland, and Romania.
Member of the Riga Saxophone Quartet until 2013. In 2016, Arvydas Kazlauskas founded Atomos Saxophone Quartet. He takes part not only in chamber music, but also in experimental and electronic music projects (Urban Trio; Endless Roar). The LP Rush Hush by Endless Roar was nominated for Zelta Mikrofons 2020 award in the category Best Jazz or Funk Album.

 

Arvydas has collaborated with vocalists Gunta Davidčuka, Baiba Reinerte, and Ieva Parša, pianists Reinis Zariņš and Agnese Egliņa, Sinfonietta Rīga String Quartet, Sinfonietta Rīga Wind Quintet, State Choir LATVIJA, choir Sōla. Regarding new works, Arvydas Kazlauskas has collaborated with composers from Latvia (such as Rolands Kronlaks, Andris Dzenītis, Linda Leimane, Edgars Raginskis) and has also premeried pieces by composers from abroad: Gabriel Jackson, Justė Janulytė, and Jachin Pousson. Arvydas’ saxophone can be heard not only in concert halls, but also in theatre and film scores.

 

In 2014, saxophone concerto E(GO) commissioned to Andris Dzenītis received the Latvian Grand Music Award in the category New Work of the Year. The composer included a recording of this work (performed by the LNSO under Normunds Šnē) in his CD of the same name.

 

In 2019, Kazlauskas recorded Fridrich Bruk’s Symphony no. 19 for Baritone Saxophone and Orchestra together with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, while in 2020 he recorded a double LP Purvs together with Lithuanian free jazz saxophonist Liudas Mockūnas.
Last autumn, together with pianist Vestards Šimkus and Endless Roar, they released the album Acclivity.

 

Docent at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, teaches saxophone at Jāzeps Mediņš Music School and Jūrmala Music School.