User:Rigas Ritmi

RIGAS RITMI FESTIVAL is an annual international contemporary jazz and world music festival held in Riga, capital of Latvia on the first week of July. It is one of the leading music festivals in Baltic States with recognition in Europe and the world. The festival represents Latvia in Europe Jazz Network (EJN).

The first RIGAS RITMI FESTIVAL took place July 2001, since then around 300 artists from more than 20 countries have performed, more than 400 concerts (including free outdoor performances) have been given with attendance in all of over 18 000 people.

Originally a jazz festival, today it presents music styles from jazz to brasil, flamenco, ladino, fado and more, offering a unique and sophisticated musical experiences. The mission of the festival is to promote the non academic music genres, presenting music styles from jazz to world music for wide audiences; therefore 50% of the concerts are free of charge and events are held in different venues in the city both indoors and outdoors: Riga Congress Hall, Mississippi Riverboat, Vermanes garden, Origo Summer Stage, Open Air leisure park EGLE, central fountain squares of Riga, music clubs and other.

RIGAS RITMI FESTIVAL is a real musical celebration with outstanding artists, amongst them - Bobby McFerrin, Diane Reeves, Take 6, Richard Bona, BBC Big Band, Avishai Cohen, Patti Austin, Scott Hamilton, Freddy Cole, The Yellowjackets, Victor Wooten – and new talents like Grace Kelly, Eldar, Gerald Clayton as well as the greatest Latvian musicians.

The idea of an international contemporary jazz and improvisation music event in Riga was initiated by Latvian jazz musician and producer Māris Briežkalns, who is the artistic director and the driving force behind the festival also today. Director of the festival is Diāna Briežkalne.

Beginning with 2011 the festival broadened its scope with two auxiliary programming seasons in Spring and Winter with the Summer session as festival’s culmination. These concert series ensure high level jazz in Latvia all year round.  MASTER-CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS One of the cornerstones of the festival is master-classes and workshops for young musicians, led by internationally renowned masters. One of the festival’s main objectives is to educate, both the audience and young and beginner musicians. Therefore alongside diverse concerts festival provides also jam sessions, master-classes and workshops, where world wide known masters pass on their knowledge, techniques and artistic visions to the new talents, serving as an inspirational turning point for many young musicians. Unforgettable master-classes have been with – Horacio el Negro Hernandez, Victor Wooten, Markus Stockhausen, Vinx, Bo Stief, Alex Wilson Salsa Orchestra.  RIGAS RITMI SHOWCASE Another important element of the festival is project, which aims to present the Latvian jazz, improvisation and world music performers to the world’s jazz scene – RIGAS RITMI SHOWCASE. Once in four years young Latvian musicians have a chance to test and show them selves and meet music experts from all around the world.

Riga Kids Festival An annual tradition is the Riga Kids Festival, which hosts special events for the youngest residents of Riga and city guests, where they can not only watch their favourite Latvian children’s ensembles and recognized artists, but also participate in the concert themselves. Riga Kids Festival highlights the idea to encourage and give support to children enthusiasm and admiration for music.

RIGAS RITMI FESTIVAL PRESENTATION IN USA In spring 2011 festival made its presentation tour in USA: Rigas Ritmi All Stars – Maris Briezkalns Quintet was giving series of concerts and interviews around USA all of which culminated in ensemble’s debut at the world famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City, this being the first time that Latvian artists headline at Blue Note. In mid- This program was enacted through the cooperation and sponsorship of New York University (NYU) and The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).

Festival’s Official Website www.rigasritmi.lv

Highlights from Previous Years

2001

Flying Pickets /UK/ Beth Gottlieb /USA/ Danny Gottlieb /USA/ Lee Gibson /UK/ Ivars Galenieks /LAT/ Steve Waterman /UK/ Baltic Percussion Band /LAT/LIT/EST/ Bo Stief /DEN/ Keiko McNamara Trio /JAP Nora Sarmoria /ARG/ Olga Pīrāga Quartet /LAT/ Kenyi Yoshiura /JAP/

2002

Cecile Verny Quartet /FRA/GER/ Frans van der Hoeven /NDL/ Mike del Ferro /NDL/ Norma Winston /UK/ Phil Maturano /USA/ Scott Stroman /UK/ Time After Time /LAT/ The New York Voices /USA/ Jazz Brothers /LIT/ Rīga Saxophone Quartet /LAT/ Take 6 /USA/ Saskia Laroo /HOL/ Swingtime Band /LAT/ Eduards Raubiško Jazztet /LAT/ Boogie Woogie Trio /LAT/ The Angelique Sextet /GER/ Ted Curson /USA/ Baltic Percussion Band feat F.Maturano /LAT/USA/ Stockholm Petit Jazz Band /SWE/

2003

Alex Wilson R&B Latino /UK/ Richard Bona /CAM/ Paul Jackson Jr /USA/ Abe Laboriel /USA/ Dj Daddy Lahari /EST/ Patti Austin /USA/ BBC Big Band /UK/ Boris Gammer /ISR/ Jiggs Wigham /UK/ Gunārs Rozenbergs /LAT/ Kuba /LAT/ Maraca & Otra Vision /CUBA/ Dj Master Fatman /DEN/ Afonso Correa /BRA/ The Gold Company /USA/ Undertango /LAT/ Eduards Raubiško Jazztet /LAT/ Uldis Stabulnieks /LAT/ Rupert Huber /AUT/ Tosca /AUT/ Time After Time /LAT/ Aaron Heick /USA/ Etienne Stadwijk /USA/ Sheryl Bailey /USA/ Nathaniel Townsley /USA/ Daniel Sadownick /USA/ Shady Brass Q /LAT/ Ted Curson /USA/ Pori Jazz Quartet /FIN/ Ryo Kavasaki Quartet /JAP/ Apple Tea /BLR/ RM Band & Jolanta Gulbe/LAT/

2004

Antti Sarpila /FIN/ Malia /FRA/ Putte Wickman /SWE/ Liepaja Big Band /LAT/ Antonio Forcione Quartet /ITA/UK/ Jazz Jamaica /UK/ Juliet Roberts /UK/ Gary Crosby Nu Trops /UK/ Mark Isaacs /AUS/ Brian Melvin /USA/ Rigas Ritmi Big Band /LAT/ Peter Herbolzheimer /GER/ Earth, Wind & Fire Experience /USA/ Pierre Dorge & New Jungle Orchestra /DEN/ Raivo Tafenau Band /EST/ Sergio Bastos /BRA/ The Auratones /NDL/ Randal Corsen Quartet /DEN/ Stockholm Classic Jazz Band /SWE/ Sony Jazz Stage Show /EST/LAT/LIT/

2005

Rigmor Gustafsson Quartet /SWE/ Richard Bona /CAM/ Joey DeFrancesco Trio /USA/ James Morrison & Rigas Ritmi Big Band /AUSTRALIA/LATVIA/ Septeto Nacional /CUBA/ Bill Bruford /UK/ M Pact /USA/ Bossa Eletrica /SWE/BRA/ Mandy Gaines Quartet /USA/LAT Sabine Reimer & Markus Setzer /GER/ Duane Davis /USA/ Zonzee /ISR/ Geografix /USA/ Viktoria Tolstoy /SWE/ Jazz'n'Tank /LAT/ La Compagnie des Musiques a Ouir /FRA/ Sofia Rubina /EST/ Ted Curson Jamsession /USA/ Genesis Voices /LAT/ Poriginal Quartet /FIN/ Aelita /USA/

2006

Airto Moreira /BRA/ Bianca Morales /FIN/ Bugge Wesseltoft /NOR/ Daniel Piazzolla /ARG/ Dianne Reeves /USA/ Dominique Eade /USA/ Greg Hutchinson /USA/ Latin Groove Orquesta /CUBA/ARG/ Omar Sosa Trio /CUBA/USA/MOZ/ Yasmin Levy /ISR/ Vocal Group Cosmos /LAT/ Dhafer Youssef /TUN/ Nato Big Band /USA/EU/ Nguyen Le /FRA/ Nordic Sounds & Villu Veski /EST/ Silvana Malta Group /BRA/DEN/ Jazz Within /LAT/ Laimis Rācenājs Orchestra /LAT/ Peter Martin /USA/ Reuben Rodgers /USA/ Pori Jazz Quartet /FIN/ Rivertribe /AUSTRALIA/

2007

Grand Six /FRA/ Magic Malik Orchestra /FRA/ Cecile Verny /FRA/ Soultrain Jam Session /LAT/ NBS Sax Quartet /LAT/ Andris Ērglis & Sony Jazz Orchestra /LAT/ Coco Mbassi Vocal Project /LAT/CAM/ Musica Brass /FRA/ Djabe /HU/ Finnish/Latvian All Stars /FIN/LAT/ Kristina Svolkinaite / LIT/ Domas Aleksa & D'Orange /LIT/EST/ Twin Town /LAT/ Silvesteri Orkesteri /LAT/ Freddy Cole Quartet /USA/ Otis Taylor /USA/ Coco Mbassi /CAM/ Farmers Market /BG/NOR/ Horacio "el Negro" Hernandez /CU/ Italuba /USA/CU/ Yellowjackets /USA/

2008

Victor Wooten Band/USA/ Scott Hamilton Quartet /USA/ Eumir Deodato /BRA/ Kate McGarry /USA/ Dresser-Tarasov-Ochs /ASV/LIT/ Sellam & Renee African Project /FRA/Mali/ Lauren Field /UK/ SSO Sax Quartet /LAT/ Goldberg Dixie /LAT/ Catapults and Parachutes /USA/ Riga-Pori All Stars feat. Paulina Pohjolainen /FIN/ Sonic Steel /DEN/ Emil Bovbjerg 7tet /DEN/ The Best of Sony Jazz Stage /LAT/ John Riley /USA/ City Jazz Big Band /LAT/ Avishai Cohen Trio /USA/ISR/ Lura /Caboverde/ POR/ Framest /LAT/

2009

Markus Stockhausen /GER/ Chagas & O'Higgins Band /BRA/UK/ Yamandu Costa /BRA/ Maria Joao & Mario Laginha /POR/ Eldar /USA/ Vinx /USA/ Grace Kelly /USA/ Marilyn Mazur /DEN/ Raimonds Pauls /LAT/ Intars Busulis /LAT/ Ted Curson Jazztet /USA/TUR/FIN/LAT/ Soul E-Motion /LAT/ Very Cool People /LAT/ CJBB & Mats Holmquist /LAT/SWE/ Buiķis & Fedotovs /LAT/ GG Choir feat. J.M. Taylor /USA/LAT/ Dave O'Higgins /UK/

2010

Cristina Branco /POR/ Take 6 /USA/ Print /FRA/ Gerald Clayton Trio /USA/ Sashird Lao /FRA/ Antonio Forcione /IT/ Bill Evans & Robben Ford feat. Etienne Mbappe /USA/ Sebastian Schunke /GER/ Olvido Ruiz /Cu/ Māris Briežkalns Quintet /LAT/ Intars Busulis /LAT/ Zimbabw /LAT/ Silvesteri Orkesteri /LAT/ PeR /LAT/ DP Trio /LAT/ Viktors Ritovs Band /LAT/ City Jazz Big Bend feat. Aisha /LAT/ Upatnieks, Petrauski & Zaļupe /LAT/ Dainius Palauskas Group Line Up Quartet /IT/ RGE feat. Jolanta Gulbe /LAT/ Framest /LAT/ Jelgava Big Band /LAT/ Kristaps Vanadziņš Trio /LAT/ Domas Aleksa & Sofia Rubina /LIT/

2011

Bobby McFerrin & Chicago Children’s Choir feat. Josephine Lee /USA/CAN/ European Jazz Orchestra /EU/ Hamleto Stamato Quintet /BRA/ Omar Puente Band /CU/UK/ Trio Chaud /FRA/ Carmen Souza /Cape Verde/POR/ Alex Wilson Salsa Orchestra /UK/ Philip Hamilton /USA/ Till Bronner /GER/ Beady Belle /NOR/ Francesco Cafiso /IT/ Das Kapital /FRA/GER/DEN/