Biography
Tomas Ciukauskas was born in Kaunas on the 22nd of July, 1981. He attended Druskininkai Art School and had private music lessons at Music studio of Juozas Mikolainis. His path as professional musician began in 1999 at Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatory. During the studies Ciukauskas was an active member in student bigband. The musicians participated in jazz festivals (Kaunas Jazz and Birstonas Jazz). After graduation he continued his education at Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius. While studying classical saxophone, he pursued his interest to jazz music. Driven by this passion he founded a jazz tio - The Jam. Along with other trio members they played in clubs and various jam sessions. Tomas Ciukauskas was also teaching in Druskininkai Ciurlionis M. K. Music School and Lazdijai Art School for several years. In 2007 he gratuated from Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and began to organize jazz events in Druskininkai town - Druskininkai Jazz. Ever since, the events of Druskininkai Jazz officially became a space for jazz music in the town. Various groups and musicians from Bulgaria, Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, Island, Latvia and Lithuania have already created their remarkable performances.
In 2008 Tomas Ciukauskas released his first solo album - "Friday Alive". Ciukauskas revealed, he always wanted to share his own music, composed for years. All the compositions has a smooth jazz sound.
Leliumai project was founded in 2009 alongside with the folk singer Lina Klimaviciute. Folk music was an inspirational key to the project. Together they created modern arrangements to folk songs common to southern part of Lithuania. Later that year, Ciukauskas performed with a well known Lithuanian jazz musician, drummer Vladimiras Tarasovas.
During the summer of 2010, Ciukauskas and a multi-intrumentalist Irakli Koiava (Georgia), presented a Jazz Duet "IT". The music had a rich sound full of lithuanian and georgian folk and ethno motives. The Duet successfully had a tour around Lithuania.
Since 2011, Tomas Ciukauskas is a member of Druskininkai Jazz Ensemble. In 2013 the Ensemble released an album - "Tribute to Ciurlionis M. K.". Ciurlionis was a huge inspirational figure in Ensemble’s musical path, so the album is a tribute for his impact. The pieces of music by Ciurlionis are originally interpreted in jazz style.
Currently, the musician is intensively performing with a project Indraya Acoustic. Indraya Acoustic is an elegant and bright sounded acoustic trio that repertoire involves well known pop and jazz compositions with a creative touch of improvisations.