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Karolis ?arkus: Palette of Feelings

By Vitalijus Gailius
August 1, 2021
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Karolis Šarkus

saxophone, alto
b.1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Karolis ?arkus is a promising young Lithuanian jazz saxophonist who is well aware of European and American jazz traditions. He is a co-founder of the traditional sounding collective Collaborative Jazz Septet. However, ?arkus cannot be described as a die-hard adherent to tradition. On the contrary, his compositional style is mainly characterized by expanding jazz boundaries beyond established norms.

Palette of Feelings is ?arkus' long-awaited debut album. It begins with "Meeting Point." Marked by funky keys and a groovalicious vibe, the tune is exceptionally vivid and has, at times, a romantic mood. Other tracks keep the same direction with catchy melodies and bright harmonies—except "Psalm for Freedom," a tune based on ?arkus' grandfather's composition "Farewell," which brings some melancholic tones to the palette.

The album is a blend of different traditions and genres. On Palette of Feelings, Scandinavian jazz interacts with

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock's funk era, while the

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea-style piano and powerful drumming on "Elevation, P.t. II " is reminiscent of a rock or even metal aesthetic.

?arkus is a versatile saxophonist with a well articulated, rich sound. He also likes using pitch shifters and does it creatively. He is experimental with his sound and technique instead of being simply being a good in-the-tradition player. Palette of Feelings is not an imitation of old forms. It's a reinterpretation of them in a new way. In global terms, the album is not a game changer but from a local Baltic perspective, it's something fresh, because such high-quality funky stuff is rare in the region.

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Track Listing

Meeting Point; Psalm for Freedom; Elevation, Pt. I; Elevation, Pt. II; Gotta Think Less; What is Beauty; Maejor; Grit and Determination

Personnel

Karolis ?arkus

saxophone, alto

?ron Gunst

David Nino van der Grinten

synthesizer

Omer Govreen

bass

Jo?o Guerra

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Jasper Blom: tenor saxophone on "Grit and Determination";

Album information

Title: Palette of Feelings | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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