REVIEW. Māras Briežkalns quintet “Latgalian Evergreens”

Continuing the playing of Latvian folk music and sound material created by legendary Latvian composers in jazz, an album of the Māras Briežkalns quintet dedicated to the Latgale region has been released. It will be publicly presented at the Latgalian culture annual award ceremony “Boņuks” at the Latgale embassy “Gors” in Rēzekne this Saturday, March 4.

This project has deep (and ancient) roots. Back in 2005, the Briežkalns quintet’s album “Latvian Evergreens” was launched, and even further in 1997, the Contemporary Music Center released the disc “Kur tu teci”, which also featured trumpeter Gunārs Rozenbergs and saxophonist Raimonds Raubiško. “Latgalian Evergreens” is like a logical next step, offering lovers of quality jazz a new and different sound to appreciate such pearls of Latgale and all Latvian musical heritage as “Auga, auga ružeņa”, “Kukleits skanėja”, “Aiz azara malni meži” and others . In three compositions – “Rudins bolss”, “Še lazdu kryumeņi salopoja” and “Aiz upītes es zaugaus” – the well-known folk music artist, singer and crooner Biruta Ozoliņa also took part.

The album was recorded in the studio of Latvian Radio 1. Such men as saxophonist Kristaps Lubovs, pianist Viktors Ritovs, harmonica and keyboard grandmaster Raimonds Macats and bassist Pēteris Liepiņš participated in the creation of “Latgalian Evergreens”. Of course, the main driving force behind “Latgalian Evergreens” is the leader of the quintet, drummer and producer Māris Briežkalns, who has played percussion instruments on more than 60 albums. He has performed and given masterclasses in many countries, including Great Britain, France and Germany. Briežkalns heads the Contemporary Music Center and is the artistic director of the international improvisation, jazz and world music festival “Rīgas Ritmi”, as well as the international competition of jazz artists “Riga Jazz Stage”. He is the head of the Latvian Radio Skaņu recording department, and for many years he was also the artistic director of the Latvian Radio big band.

“As surprising as it may sound, the idea for an album of Latgale atmosphere in a jazz manner arose… in Texas,” says Māris Briežkalns. “We gave a concert in the USA and visited the Honorary Consul of Latvia Pīters Ragauš, who liked our CD “Latvian Evergreens”. Considering his Latgale roots, he suggested that a similar program could be created, also using Latgale’s musical heritage. Now the idea has materialized in the “Latgalian Evergreens” program.”

Eight compositions, which will surely be heard by listening ears, both in jazz and music in general, and in the ears of the patriots of Latgale. It is true that jazz is an art of improvisation, so it is sometimes difficult to even recognize popular pieces. For example, reviewer No. 1 of this album “Auga, auga ružeņa” can be understood here only by the main motif of the composition or the chorus, and even then only with a lot of effort, but how the musicians play here! Starting from Lubov up to Pēteris Liepiņas, who is entrusted with almost the main solo parts here. Beautiful, what else can I add! Moreover, this can be said about this work as a whole.

It should be noted that the album design uses an artwork created by Kristine Kutepova. For now, “Latgalian Evergreens” can be heard on music streaming sites, but it will also be released on CD and vinyl records. The publisher of the album is “MMC Records”.