The music festival “Rīgas ritmi” has ended / Article

According to the organizers, the highlight of the festival was the “Modern Standards Supergroup” concert, in which five world jazz stars – drummer Billy Cobham, trumpeter Randy Brecker, saxophonist Bill Evans, pianist Niels Lan Doky and bassist Linley Marthe – performed together. “Every performance is a big event for us,” emphasized Billy Cobham. “Especially after the pandemic. That’s why it’s always a great pleasure to play in such a beautiful place, for such a responsive audience.”

“A vivid stage show was provided by the international global music group “Ayom” from Portugal, both visually and aurally masterfully mixing together influences from the musical traditions of Brazil, Africa and the Mediterranean countries. The most colorful member of the group “Ayom” is its leader – vocalist and percussionist Jabu Morales , who at the end of the concert demonstrated dizzying Brazilian frevo dance style tricks, but on the morning of the performance, together with his colleagues, gave an expressive master class to Latvian music students in the Latvian Radio 1 studio,” the organizers said.

American singer and songwriter Clark Beckham also gave a concert at the festival, who was also one of the leaders of the master classes. Traditionally, the Latvian jazzfunk group “Very Cool People” also offered a new song program at the festival. This time together with the young singer Paula Saija.

The “Jersika Stage” curated by the jazz publishing house “Jersika Records” operated in the art center “Noass” on the AB dam. Experimental performances were performed by harpsichordist and harpsichordist Ieva Saliete and the psychedelic jazz rock group “Psychosis Amoralis”, while the jazz and funk atmosphere was provided by the American drummer, winner of the “Riga Jazz Stage 2022” competition Domo Branch, the manager of the “Hammond” organ Atis Andersons with his trio, neo-fusion band “Lupa”, as well as the expressive British jazz, funk and soul singer and multi-instrumentalist Xantoné Blacq with his quartet.

The festival took place jam session (improvisation sessions) led by double bassist Andras Grunte’s trio. Guitarist Daniele Mammarella performed at the concerts of Italian artists together with his Latvian colleague Reini Jauno, singer, “Riga Jazz Stage 2022” laureate Valentina Fin and guitarist Filippo Ieraci.

The festival program will also be continued in the autumn sessions of “Art of Riga Jazz” in the 1st studio of Latvian Radio. On November 11, the Spanish singer and trombonist Rita Payés will perform in Riga.

The festival “Rīgas Ritmi 2023” will take place from July 6 to 8, 2023.

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