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Eine der bekanntesten litauischen a-cappella Gruppen „Jazz Island“ schenkt dem österreichischen Publikum stimmungsvolle Konzerte: am Donnerstag, 10. Februar um 18.30 im Otto Mauer Zentrum (Währinger Straße 2 – 4) und am Samstag, 12 Februar um 19 Uhr im Mozarteum (Wiener Saal) Salzburg. Die Konzerttour wird durch die Ständige Vertretung der Republik Litauen bei der OSZE, das Kulturministerium der Republik Litauen, Litauischen Gemeinde in Österreich und Honorar Konsul der Republik Litauen in Salzburg gefördert.

Jazz Island - a vocal ensemble of the Artūras Novikas Jazz School, was established in 1991. The group exquisitely performs jazz standards, arranged Lithuanian folksongs, and pieces of popular music from around the world. Its repertory is highly varied, authentic and well-known, mostly performed a-cappella. Jazz Island is distinguished for its peculiar sound, great unison, the adjustment of voice polyphony, a subtle sense of different styles, musicality, and theatricality. Most of the songs performed by the group are arranged by its leader Artūras Novikas who sings in the ensemble himself. Every Jazz Island member immensely enjoys singing and persuasively conveys youthful passion and vitality to the audience at performances.

Jazz Island has a wide concert geography: it gave performances in the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and many other countries.

The vocal jazz group is a many-times laureate of the song contest Dainų Dainelė (The Song of Songs) and the participant of Baby Sing Jazz, Junior Jazz, Birštonas Jazz, Kaunas Jazz, and other festivals in Lithuania. In summer 2004, the ensemble led by Artūras Novikas participated in the famous international jazz festival Montreux Jazz in Switzerland, performing on the same stage with Alicia Keys, Bobby McFerrin, Deep Purple, The Corrs, Dido, and others. In 2006 Jazz Island took first place in the category of mixed vocal ensembles at the first international contest of vocal bands in the Baltic States. Jazz Island performed at various events in the Presidential Palace, the Seimas, the Government’s Office, the Vilnius Town Hall, embassies, and ministries as well as at private business events on many occasions.

In 2007 the vocal ensemble was nominated for the Aukso Paukštė (Golden Bird) award by the Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre and was named the best vocal group in Lithuania.

In 2009 the Lithuanian Musicians’ Union awarded the group with the Golden Disc for its distinct and lively artistic performances of the recent years.