"Saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen discovered a new level of creativity when visiting Las Pozas in 2006. Having immersed himself in performing live and studying in Sweden and Brazil, he was no stranger to travelling. Nevertheless, experiencing the weird and wonderful garden of surrealist poet Edward James deep in the rainforest of Mexico became a game changer. The journey that had begun in the Eastern Finnish city of Kuopio in 1983 had led the composer and improviser to a point in place and time where he became deeply aware of what it means to be an artist and how important it is to keep an open mind.

The impact of early paragons from Juhani Aaltonen to Keith Jarrett still echo in much of Lyytinen's output but the dominant trend in recent years has been the increase of minimalist tendencies inspired by Henryk Górecki and Midori Takada. In contrast to this exploration of minute changes, time has been consumed by the large audiovisual solo project Self-Portrait. Upon completion, this juxtaposition of electroacoustic textures and picturesque photographs will follow the 2016 eponymous cd/dvd debut by the one-man band Pauli Lyytinen Machinery.

Elifantree, on the other hand, is an environment where Lyytinen has learned a lot about inspiration and poise. Still going strong after five albums and hundreds of shows around the globe, the saxophonist co-leads this venture with his spouse, vocal artist Anni Elif Egecioglu. The band is currently gearing up for the release of their next disc. Recorded in eight countries with eight drummers (Olavi Louhivuori, Andreas Werliin, Terje Isungset, Lisbeth Diers, Marc Pell, Julian Sartorius, Yuko Oshima and Ryosuke Kiyasu), Hachi will come out in February 2021.

As a bandleader, the intense Lyytinen operates in genres varying from improvisation (Rabbit Hole) to tango nuevo (Sole Azul) and beyond. Another important vessel of expression is the Magnetia Orkesteri which released their sophomore album Hypnosis in March 2020. In addition, the arduous musician finds time to act as full-time member in groups like Raoul Björkenheim eCsTaSy and Astro Can Caravan and record and perform with the likes of Verneri Pohjola.

Formally educated in Sao Paulo and Gothenburg and graduated as a Nordic Master in Jazz from Stockholm, Århus and Helsinki, Pauli Lyytinen rates the know- how passed on by Fredrik Ljungkvist, Peter Brötzmann and Anders Jormin as his most valuable learning asset.

Of the 40 titles in his discography, 27 are releases the brave woodwinder counts as his own productions. As to live appearances, he has performed in excess of 35 different countries. A particular triumph came in 2018 when the nomad artist was invited to become Artist-In-Residence at the Südtirol Jazz Festival in Italy. This recognition comprised of six shows and three extensive composition commissions.

Befitting a weathered improviser, the unequalled Pauli Lyytinen confesses to believing in serendipity. One of his mottoes comes from the eminent Hermeto Pascoal whom he once met on his travels in Brazil. "Music has no boundaries. It belongs to all and is the universal language of the world."-Petri Silas

Maciej Garbowski: "Graduated from the Jazz Institute (2004) and the Classical Faculty (2005) on the Academy of Music in Katowice In 2002-2005 a member of the Aukso Chamber Orchestra conducted by Marek Moś. Co-former of the piano trio RGG very well stated in Poland and Europe. Since 2007 teacher in a Jazz Institute on the Academy of Music in Katowice. A member of a Tomasz Stańko's project - New Balladyna Quartet.

The initiator of the project Lutosławski Collective. Garbowski is foremost jazz and classical bassist, composer, and the forerunner of the idea of international collaboration of artists from different musical cultures under the banner of IMP (International Musical Project). Participant of European art initiatives such as the Jazz Plays Europe or Take Five Europe.

Maciej Garbowski is a winner of numerous awards, such as: I Prize on the Jazz Blizzard Festival 2003 and 2007, II Prize and the Audience Prize on XXVII Internacionale Festival de Jazz w Getxo (Spain) in 2003, Key to the Carreer Award on Pomerania Jazz Festival 2003, Jazz Album of the Year - Rzeczpospolita & Jazz Radio (RGG -Unfinished Story), "Melomani 2008" Award for the best jazz album (RGG - Unfinished Story).

His solo debut album "Elements" was nominated to the most important Polish musical award Fryderyki 2013. Garbowski has reached the number of 25 released CD albums yet.

Cooperation: RGG, Maciej Obara Trio, Aukso Chamber Orchestra, Esus, Tomasz Stańko, Terje Rypdal, Thomas Gustafsson, Jon Fält, Antoine Roney, Jan "Ptaszyn" Wróblewski, Anders Jormin."

Krzysztof Gradziuk: "A jazz drummer and teacher. A graduate of the Institute of Jazz at the Academy of Music in Katowice. In 2003 he was awarded a one-term scholarship from the Hohschule für Musik und Theater in Leipzig (Germany) and in 2004 he took part in the Summer Jazz Workshop in Louisville (USA) in the class of John Riley and Steve Davis. In 2004 he was granted the scholarship of the Minister of Culture and Arts. Since 2001 he has been a member of the RGG piano trio, one of the major jazz ensembles in the country.

Other groups he is permanently involved with include: Maciej Obara Quartet, Anna Gadt Quartet, Maciej Fortuna Trio, Daniel Popiałkiewicz Quartet and Leszek Kułakowski Trio. He is currently teaching in the percussion class at the Institute of Jazz at the Academy of Music in Katowice, at the Faculty of Jazz at the Fryderyk Chopin State Music Schools (2nd Degree) in Warsaw as well as at the Post-secondary Henryk Majewski Jazz Study in Warsaw."