This artist is one of the flag bearers of the “Improdimensija” movement, which inspired the rise of improvisational music in Lithuania. It was he who started organizing the series of free jazz and improvisational music concerts “Improdimensija” in Kaunas, which in 2017 opened a new page in history, with the joining of the people from Vilnius – saxophonist Liudus Mockūnas and like-minded people. Since then, “Improdimensija” concerts have been held in the capital.
They brought together an impressive global constellation of improvisational music here, and became an important part of the creative platform “Improdimensija” for improvisation, experiments and education. A. Mikalkėnas also appeared in various cycle projects. He has collaborated with many famous masters of improvisational music, including Yumiko Yoshimoto, Michael Moore, Kenny Wollesen, Lasse Lindgren, Jerome Fourrier, Ken McCann, Francesco Angiuli, Nuria Andorrà, Mikolaj Trzaska, David Stacken, Kirke Karja.
On the “Improdimensijos” platform, A. Mikalkėnas also expresses himself productively as a pedagogue. When the Contemporary Music and Improvisation master’s study program appeared at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, he became one of the professors of the new program. Arno together with L. Mockūnas from the students of this program “Improdimensijos orchestra” has become a phenomenon on the Lithuanian improvisational music scene.
In addition, A. Mikalkėnas teaches at the Jazz Academy, an informal musical education space dedicated to improvisational music, established by himself and like-minded people in Kaunas.
This music actively performs in Lithuania and abroad, releases albums with the improvisers trio “Ėuoliniai berželiai”, with L. Mockūnas and the Norwegian drummer Haåkon Berre. They also performed at “Vilnius Jazz“. At this festival, A. Mikalkėnas also played his music with the “Improdimensijos Orchestra”. The artist appeared in many European countries with various collectives.
The “Vilnius Jazz” prize “For services to Lithuanian jazz” has been awarded since 2004. 16 jazz virtuosos have become its laureates, including Viačeslav Ganelin, Vladimir Čekasin, Vladimir Tarasov, Dainius Pulauskas, Petras Vyšniauskas, Liudas Mockūnas, Jievaras Jasinskis, Marijus Aleksa, three jazz theorists, photo artist Vytautas Suslavičius and music record label “NoBusiness Records”. . Musicologist Liudas Šaltenis (1941–1994) and long-time leader of the Kaunas Big Band Romualdas Grabštas (1943–2009) were awarded posthumously.
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