Gintautas Abarius

To write truly good music, you must understand the language of sound in all its dimensions. There is hearing, feeling, and eventually, there is that unique connection that a really great musician learns to build with their audience over time. In rare cases, as with the late internationally accomplished pianist, Gintas Abarius, the son of famous Lithuanian conductor and composer Lionginas Abarius, the connection is downright infectious. I met Gintas more than a year ago when I was contacted via telephone to do some promotional work for the band Baltic Avenue. At the time Gintas was in good spirits, despite his ongoing battle with a severe form of throat cancer. I don’t know if it is the hardship of experiences like that or if it was simply in the way he embraced life in general, but as I began to hear more and more of his work, I realized that I had come to know an artist who truly understood what it meant to put meaning to music.

When I first heard the album, “Quietness and Trust”, I was deeply impressed by the way the intimate melodic phrasing invites the listener to catch a glimpse into the soul of Gintas himself. Especially during the pieces “Cloud of Praise”, “Adoration”, and my personal favorite track “Gratitude”, it was quite an experience to be able to intuitively understand and share in the delicate emotion and love Gintas expresses through the keys of his piano. I haven’t enjoyed a collection of solo piano pieces like this since I was introduced to the album “Nocturnal Afternoon” by the legendary pianist Joseph Rojo, nearly two decades ago.

Gintas was born in Lithuania in 1959 and began playing piano at age 5. The following are a list of a few of his major accomplishments throughout his tenure as a world-renowned jazz musician.

• (1980) Winner of Grand Prix at national Birstonas jazz festival in Lithuania.
• (1987) Winner of Grand Prix at international music contest in Moscow. Concerts on national TV of USSR in Moscow.
• (1988) Grand Prix at national Birstonas jazz festival. Gintas Abarius is announced as the best jazz pianist in Lithuania. “Abarius Jazz Trio” received international award of jazz critics as a Discovery of the Year of USSR.
• From 1987, Gintas toured and played with much success in Germany, Poland, Finland, Russia, Denmark, England, Latvia, Bulgaria, Holland, Estonia, Spain, Iceland, Slovakia, Israel, and the USA.
• Gintas composed two national anthems for Lithuania – “Saukiu as Tauta” (“I Am Calling the Nation”) and “Dieve, Laimink Lietuva” (“God, Bless Lithuania”) which are always heard during Lithuania’s national holidays and celebrations.

Though Gintas will be sorely missed for his musical talents, uplifting Christian message, and eccentric cosmopolitan sense of humor, we will neither forget him nor the gift of music he gave to the world.

You can buy or listen to Gintas’ albums “Gates of Joy” and “Quietness and Trust” by visiting any of the following links.

Buy “Quietness and Trust” from Amazon.com

Rhapsody subscribers can listen to Quietness And Trust here.

Buy from Amazon.com

Rhapsody subscribers can listen to Gates of Joy here