Events
Free entrance for students of Music Secondary Schools and students, teachers and staff of JVLMA.
Darren Pettit, Chris Leach and united JVLMA / RDKS / JMRMV big band
Soloists Darren Pettit (saxophone), Christopher Leach (trombone)
University of Nebraska Omaha, USA
Artistic director and conductor Dāvis Jurka
Music by Darren Pettit and arrangements of jazz standards Darren Pettit is an associate professor of Music Theory and Composition at the University of Nebraska Omaha and a saxophonist who has toured with various American Big Bands for many years. «At the concert, we will play several of his compositions, as well as an arrangement of a composition by Jimi Hendrix, which, performed by a Big Band, sounds very impressive and shows what a rebel in his spirit Daren is,» about the upcoming concert says Dāvis Jurka, the Big Band's artistic director.
Chris Leach (Christopher Leach) is a pianist, trombonist, educator, and doctoral program student at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Performed with celebrities such as Ernie Watts, Scott Whitfield, Jackie Allen, and more.
The Big Band of JVLMA and Riga Dome Choir School (RDCS) was formed in January 2018, and its leader is the saxophonist and composer Dāvis Jurka, who has graduated from the JVLMA and sharpened his skills at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre. Since 2022, the Jazz Department of Jazeps Medins Riga Music Secondary School (JMRSMS) students have joined the Band. The Big Band has performed together with artists such as Pete Madsen, Derrick Fox, Jaak Sooäär, Francesco Guaiana, Daumants Kalniņš, Kristīne Prauliņa, Darcy James Argue, Dominykas Vyšniauskas and others. Every year young musicians participate in the concert dedicated to International Jazz Day. Since its beginning in 2020, the united students’ Big Band has performed the compositions of young composers at the semi-final concert of the Big Band composition contest for young Baltic composers. The Band also participates in the JVLMA Contemporary Music Festival «deciBels».
International Jazz Day Latvia at club Biedrība
The International Jazz Day in Latvia will bring together the brightest representatives of Latvian and Estonian jazz on its stage to go on an amazing musical journey and immerse yourself in the world of wonderful jazz surprises. The variety of directions that the musicians will present on one stage will allow everyone to find something of their own, unique. Throughout the evening, the audience will be surprised by exciting musicians - Inese Bērzina Quartet, Miķelis Dzenuška and "Uzvaras Bulvāris", as well as the joint project of Latvian and Estonian musicians - "Ruslan Px and Funcoolio".
Seaside jazz in Vecāķi
Public organization «Vecāķu biedrība» invites you to the «Seaside Jazz» concert by the legendary singer and lector of the Latvian Academy of Music Inga Berzina and her quartet. The program will start at 16:00 at the premises of the children’s camp «Laimite» (Vecaķu prospekts, 82) and will be dedicated to the International Jazz Day. In addition, the program features «Music Lover's Corner» — a pop-up shop and vinyl records listening station, a documentary screening (dedicated to the first Jazz festival «KIKOK-62», directed by Mareks Ameriks), and a concert by Inga Berzina quartet.
Latvian National Armed Forces Navy Orchestra - "Between continents"
The concert program «Between Continents» was created to demonstrate jazz genre diversity by being a bridge between Europe and USA. Here, the listener will hear original, classical, and folk songs in jazz arrangements. Meanwhile, swing will be the uniting jazz element for both ensemble line-ups.
The Latvian National Armed Forces Navy orchestra big band will perform Grammy-nominated Bob Mintzer’s powerful composition «Good News» and one of the most famous Count Basie’s compositions «April in Paris», then a rock march, «A Few Good Men», by Gordon Goodwin and Sammy Nestico’s arrangement of George Gershwin’s «Strike Up the Band». The clarinet trio will play «Memphis Trio» by Nick Homes and «Sing, Sing, Sing» by Benny Goodman, arranged by one of the band’s soloists Dāvis Donis. In contrast, Astor Piazzolla’s «Libertango», arranged by Thomas H. Graf, will be a part of the program.
The attendees will also get a glimpse of Latvian big band music — «Melancholic Waltz» by Emīls Dārziņš arranged by Allen Wittig, Māris Briežkalns and Viktors Ritovs, as well as «Just As It Is» by Emīls Dārziņš and the Latvian folk song «Blow, Wind, Blow» arranged by Rimants Gedraišs. In addition, soloists Deniss Seimuškins and Agris Bušs will join the band.
Doors open on April 30th at 17:30 with your ID. Concert will also be live streamed on Latvian Radio 3 "Klasika" and available on the webpage https://klasika.lsm.lv
Toms Rudzinskis International Quartet
The band will perform Toms Rudzinskis’ original compositions for his acoustic quartet, the participants of which are saxophonist Toms Rudzinskis, pianist Alex Koo, double bassist Igor Spallati, and drummer Ivars Arutyunyan. The host of the concert — Anete Ašmane-Vilsone.
Toms Rudzinskis Acoustic Quartet first gathered in 2011 and later formed the core of Rudzinskis’ debut recording «ABRA», receiving critical acclaim and double Latvian Music recording award «Zelta Mikrofons» nominations as Best Jazz Album and Best Debut, with National Radio naming it the «most impressive discovery in Latvian jazz in the past years» in 2015. Called «a talent in finding the unbeaten path where tradition meets extremely intellectual, free, complicated and interesting musicianship», Rudzinskis’ compositions and intense yet warm sound open a musical conversation of powerful rhythms, expressive melodies, and exciting improvisation, truly highlighting Quartet’s musical personalities.
Toms Rudzinskis is one of Baltics’ leading jazz saxophone players and composers with an innovative and unique sound in his performance and compositions. Prestigious Conservatorium van Amsterdam graduate, numerous jazz and classical music award winner, well-respected soloist and sideman, Toms performs and collaborates internationally.
NUUN, Evilena Protektore / SIG & ORUBS /«Silts», Jam Session
19.00 experimental music collective NUUN
NUUN (Reinis Puriņš and Artūrs Cukanovs) is a collaboration of two friends who aren't afraid to take to the unknown and always try to broaden their and their listener's musical borders. Using the sounds created at the moment, musicians take the listeners and themselves on a unique journey, which everyone can interpret through their own experiences.
20.00 - SIG & ORUBS
Sig met Arti Oruba seven years ago, who returned to Latvia after studying drumming in Holland to spoil us with fresh jazz drum sounds. Art's game can be creatively colorful, playful and light, and monotonously technical and heavy. He can bring the listener to a state of trance, and it happens without noticing.
21.00 Evilena Protektore / «Silts»
Passionate Tania Maria, romantic Antonio Carlos Jobim, intricate Hermeto Pascoal, fiery Airto Moreira, and other latin jazz masters in a concert program, «Silts».
Artis Orubs (drums)
Edvīns Ozols (bass)
Artjoms Sarvi (piano)
Gatis Gorkuša (trumpet)
Evilena Protektore (vocals).
22.00 Jam Session
Concert and jam session performed by Jazz and Popular music department students and teachers of Jelgava Highschool of Music
“Life is a lot like jazz, it’s best when you improvise” (George Gershwin)
At 30th of April we will celebrate 10th anniversary of UNESCO International Jazz Day in Latvia. Every music lover is welcome to this tribute to jazz that will take place in restaurant “Parks” with concert and jam session performed by Jazz and Popular music department students and teachers of Jelgava Highschool of Music.
The concert of popular jazz standards and jam session will be lead by teacher and saxophonist Artūrs Sebris. Every jazz music players is welcome to take part in the jam session.
Jūras iela 24, Liepāja, LV-3401
Jazz Valhalla Celebrating Jazz
On the 30th of april musicians all around the world are celebrating international jazz day. In honor of the occasion Jazz Valhalla will host international jazz quintet with musicians from USA, Austria and Latvia. This time a step back from the usual order - the concert is on Sunday, not Monday, but the next day we enjoy the May 1st holiday.
Katrīne Sabīne Kalniņa - alto saxophone (Latvia)
Josh Goodwin - trumpet (USA)
Marks Jonatans Runds - guitar (Latvia)
Luka Weigl - double bass (Austria)
Fay Porter - drums (ASV)
Evilena Protektore, Tuomo Uusitalo: a preview of the album «Tales of that old familiar feeling»
«Tales of that old familiar feeling» is all about love - new and naive, mature and strong, found, lost and found again.
Evilena Protektore: «This program is my dedication to such wonderful artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, and other amazing singers, who sang about what they fealt and did it with their hearts in it, very openly and sincerely. Jazz is a music that can only exist when musicians feel each other, when they can catch a one wave and ride it together. Love can be so different and there are so much ways one can sing about it, that it is a perfect topic to do music in a duo setting, thus I needed a partner; I decided that Tuomo Uusitalo would be ideal for that and I guessed right. Our music turned out just the way I imagined - I saw a glass of wine, dimmed lights, a person alone or with someone they hold dear, and music…»