Grdina+Lillinger / Vitja Pauwels’ Early Life Forms 29-02-24

do 29 feb '24

Vitja Pauwels’ Early Life Forms

Guitarist Vitja Pauwels has become incontournable in Belgian jazz. The wider you see the genre, the more often you come across him. His band Early Life Forms dances on the interface between voluptuous Latin jazz, grooving rock and cinematic explorations. He presents his new album in good company.

Early Life Forms
Vitja Pauwels (guitar - Naima Joris, Lara Rosseel, Bombataz, Profound Observer, Drift By/Sink In ...), Frederik Leroux (guitar - Aspen Editions, FES), Laurens Dierickx (Hammond), Casper Van De Velde (drums - schntzl, Bombataz, Simba)

Grdina+Lillinger

Since 2017, these two phenomena have been blending electronica, drum and bass, metal, punk and free jazz into an explosive sound. Grdina is a force of nature on guitar and oud, and virtuoso powerhouse Lillinger blends intense, heavily grooving free improvisation with modular composition ideas.

With equal parts rock, punk and exploratory atonality, these next-level innovators take unexpected turns at every corner. Think influences from electronica, Persian and Arabic music, metal, free jazz, Alban Berg and Stockhausen. A true ode and dedication to free improvisation.

Grdina+Lillinger
Gordon Grdina (guitar, oud), Christian Lillinger (drums)

More about Vitja

Vitja Pauwels doesn't call himself a jazz guitarist, and with good reason. He likes to draw inspiration from the freedom of the genre and fellow guitarists like Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot, but he draws just as much inspiration from artists like Daniel Lanois and Ry Cooder, who are rooted in roots music or leverage the guitar for more experimental, often cinematic sounds.

In 2022, his artist-in-residence at the BRAND! Festival led to a grand finale together with his quartet and Marc Ribot; favorite guitarist of John Zorn and Tom Waits, among others. The magic of those days now leads to an album with WERF and a tour that appeals to the imagination.