Arkady Gotesman, one of the most creative and productive creators of Lithuanian jazz, expresses himself not only as a percussionist and composer, but also as a poet, director, pedagogue, producer, the soul of the “Vilnius Klezmerai” orchestra and the artistic director of two music festivals.
He creates and records music for the theater, performs it in performances, writes scripts for musical performances and installations, prepares projects with dancers, writers, actors and creators of visual arts, original performances.
Arkady manages to find new jazz scenes on the periphery and include world jazz figures in his projects. He has improvised with many musical luminaries of various genres, including Roland Dahinden, Vladimir Volkov, Viacheslav Gaivoronsky, Arkady Shilkloper, Julian Joseph, John Zorn, Jack Siron, Frank London, Anthony Coleman, Charles Gayle, Tim Daisy, Joey Baron, Barry Guy, Dominic Duval, Dave Douglas, Albert Beger, Martin Küchen, Mark Tokar, Warren Smith, Andrew Lamb.
Among his stable partners in Lithuania are Viačeslav Ganelinas, Petras Vyšniauskas, Vladimiras Tarasovs, Dmitrijus Golovanovs, Janas Maksimovičius. Arkadijus is one of the enthusiasts of sounding silent films live, popularizing events of this genre in Lithuania with musicians from various countries. The percussionist plays not only jazz, but also the latest academic music, and has presented world premieres of works by Osvaldas Balakauskas, Anatolijus Šenderovs, Zita Bružaitė, Šarūnas Nak and other composers. He is also the organizer of the Klezmer Music Festival, the artistic director of the Šeduva Percussion Festival and the founder of the Theatrum solius quadri theater.
In 2018, Gotesman was awarded the Grand Prize of the International Jazz Festival “Birštonas”, and in 2015 – the prize of the “Vilnius Jazz” festival for services to Lithuanian jazz. Gotesman was awarded the Grand Prize of the international jazz festival “Birštonas”, in 2015 – the prize of the “Vilnius Jazz” festival for his services to Lithuanian jazz.
