Matīss Čudars and the Latvian Radio Big Band

What makes Latvian jazz different from jazz born anywhere else? The Latvian Radio Big Band attempts to answer this question with the project Latviešu džeza svīta (Latvian Jazz Suite) that features pieces written in different jazz styles. The authors have been inspired by the natural landscapes of Latvia, the urban environment, and literature, which is evident by the titles of the pieces – Saules bērni (Children of the Sun), Vērmaņdārzs (The Vērmanes Garden) and Darbs (Work).  The composer and pianist to lay the cornerstones of the Jazz suite in Latvia was the phenomenal Raimonds Pauls. This genre has also seen great contributions by such jazz giants as Vitālijs Dolgovs, Uldis Stabulnieks, Egils Straume, Gunārs Rozenbergs and others.

In this concert, the Latvian Radio Jazz Big Band will be joined by one of the composers featured in the project – the talented guitarist Matīss Čudars, winner of the Riga Jazz Stage 2017 competition who was also nominated for the Latvian Grand Music Award and received the Annual Latvian Music Recording Award Golden Mic in the category Best Jazz Album. 

Singer Evilena Protektore about Latvian Jazz Suite: “Magical, charming, powerful, interesting, versatile. My first thought was that this kind of music should be heard without interruptions, or at least this should be the case for the pieces of each composer – no introductions are needed because the first notes are capable of carrying the listener away into a state of trance.”

Programme

Matīss Čudars’ original music

Participants

Matīss Čudars
The Latvian Radio Big Band

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