As They Are

Type: Vinyl record

Information

LP

Year of Publication: 2023

Publisher: Music Information Centre Lithuania

Product ID: MICL LP005

Description

Marijus Aleksa is a genuine shaman of rhythm who has pursued a remarkable international career. After making his debut at the Vilnius Jazz Festival at the tender age of thirteen, he has grown into a stage partner of some of the world’s most celebrated stars and has played at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Blue Note at Sea jazz forum to mention just a few. An ambitious drummer and percussionist, he relies on his technical prowess and visionary endeavours. His music is not unlike the works by the abstract expressionist painters: rich in colour, vivid, intuitive and hypnotising. His musical maps have been marked with the lines and crossings of jazz, rock, world and electronic club music. Instead of joining the trend of avant-garde dominating the Lithuanian jazz stage, he has chosen the distinctive path of looking for new methods of interaction with drums and percussion in addition to his particular interest in the musical genres seemingly unrelated to jazz and improvisation, thus weaving – strand by strand – his own exquisitely decorated musical tapestry.
(Vitalijus Gailius)

With the concept of collage forming a central theme of the record, 23 people from different parts of the world (Lithuania / USA / UK / Cuba) each contributed to the creative flow of the musical creation, forming a rich sonic tapestry – formed of 3 years of recording and re-editing jam sessions, creating a spellbind final piece constructed from smaller pieces that in the first instance may have seemed incompatible. This sensibility was also applied to the track titles, which were created by segmenting common phrases and reforming them. The artwork was also created by Japanese collage artist Mt. Chills.

Musicians in alphabetical order:

Domas Aleksa, Marijus Aleksa, Junior Alli Balogun, Arminas Bižys, Ka Boukie, Samuel Crow, Nathaniel Facey, Will Fry, Jonathan Harvey, Kazimieras Jušinskas, Simonas Kaupinis, Paulius Kilbauskas, Alex Losardo, Gediminas Mačiulskis, Danielius Pancerovas, Remigijus Rančys, Oli Rockberger, Dovydas Stalmokas, Domas Strupinskas, Mindaugas Vadoklis, Yelfris Valdés, Paulius Vaškas, Josiah Woodson

Produced by Marijus Aleksa
Recorded by Pranas Gudaitis
Mixed by Jonas Drema
Mastered by Keith at Curve Pusher
Artwork & design by Mt. Chills
Portrait photo by Monika Penkutė

Contents:

A side

Thing(s) 5:42

Push Back feat. Ka Boukie 2:16

As They Are 5:30

Do 2:55

B side

The Right 4:40

See feat. Yelfris Valdés 6:35

Giuded By Sensations 5:11

& 3:36