Memelio džiazo klubas

Eugenijus Jonavicius
guitarist.

Born in 1960 April 23, in Telšiai, Lithuania.
His career began in his child hood. At the age of 12 he played accordion, flute, guitar, bass guitar, and sang in the school choir. At the age of 13 he was invited to play in the school disco and in the local discotheque. Till he became 18 he was strongly influenced by the style of hard rock.

His serious concerts began in 1973. That year he participated in “Žemaitijos taurės” and won an award of the youngest artist. Many times he took part in different festivals in Lithuania, such as “Vilniaus bokštai”, “Gintarinė triūba”, “Debiutai”, “Opus” and many others. Several times E. Jonavičius was nominated as the greatest guitar player, and won the awards.

In 1978, he finished “J. Žemaitės “secondary school in his home town and headed to Klaipėda to study in Klaipėdos Music Academy. He finished his studies in 1985 and graduated with specialties of guitarist, vocalist, orchestra conductor, and pedagogue. He studied in the Art faculty of jazz, and he was an active participant in the musical activities and concerts. At that time he was a fanatic of jazz. He took part in almost all the concerts and festivals which we held in Klaipėda.

Since the year of 1982, he cooperated with the local band “Studija”. They held their concerts not only in Lithuania, but also in Germany, Poland, Belgium and northern Siberia. In Cuba he played with “Studija” and dance troupe “Žuvėdra” from Klaipėda. Several times, with his own quartet “Pas Alberta” he took part in the festival “JAZZ AT THE BALTIC” in Sweden (1990 and 1991). Later as he was the lecturer of jazz in the University of Klaipėda, he and his colleagues created a band called ‘Memel Swingers” (later it became “Doudi Jazz Band”). They traveled around Europe with their jazz concerts. Since 1991 and up to now E. Jonavičius has an active concerting work. He takes part in the festivals of Lithuania, especially international jazz concerts, cooperates with music records companies and takes part in their projects.

Up to now he lives in Klaipėda, works in S.Šimkaus conservatory, Klaipedos College and in university of Klaipeda in the jazz faculty.