RIGA - The Baltic states are renowned for their folk music. The citizens of the three countries are often referred to as the "singing people" and folk music remains one of the strongest aspects of traditional culture. It is only natural that as a part of this year's "Nordic Spring" festival prominent musicians from Latvia and Estonia will come together on May 18 to put on a concert of traditional songs from the Baltic states and Scandinavia.
But this is tradition with a twist: Musicians will play old folk songs from the Baltic states and the five Scandinavian countries, all slightly modified to take on a modern jazz theme.
The somewhat cumbersome name of the event is "Nordic Spring 's Nordic and Latvian Folk Songs in Jazz Arrangements by G. Rozenbergs." The idea was originally inspired by the Radio Sweden Latvian section, which featured jazzy Nordic melodies performed by the distinguished Swedish clarinet player Putte Wickmann.
The concert will take place in the Liela Gilde in Riga's Old Town. The venue itself is steeped in tradition: once a trade guild, the building is reminiscent of a medieval castle.
The show, which promises to be a montage of different styles and traditions, will feature famous Estonian drummer Toomas Rull teaming up with the Latvian "Mirage Jazz Orchestra" and composer Gunars Rozenbergs.
Rull has played for a number of different jazz and rock bands in the Baltics. He is currently working as a percussion instructor at the Georg Ots Music School and also works promoting Zildjian brand cymbals around the world.
Rozenbergs will be working on the arrangements and giving the songs a unique, interesting, jazzy element. He began his career as a jazz trumpeter and later became the leader of the Latvian Radio Big Band in the 1980s, and has received international acclaim for his music, compositions and musical arrangements.
The other members of the band include Ivars Birkans (flute, alto sax), Andris Amantovs (clarinet), Deniss Paskevics (soprano sax, tenor sax), Lauris Amantovs (trombone), Raimonds Macats (keyboard, mouth harmonica), and Andris Grunte (double bass). All these musicians are actively performing on the Baltic and international jazz scene, and will be combining their experiences with various jazz groups, including the Mirage Jazz Orchestra, the Riga Groove Quartet, the Rhythm Community and others.
The goal of the concert is to popularize traditional songs throughout the Baltic region, and to use these songs to give the audience a deeper understanding of the cultures of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries. It is one of about 40 events taking place in connection with the Nordic Spring festivities, which present cultural topics focusing on music, cinema, literature, and the performing arts.
Nordic Spring events are organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers in conjunction with local cultural centers. The festival's goal is to use the close cooperation among governments to foster cultural ties. It is one of several festivals taking place in Latvia this spring to foster closer ties with Western Europe, including the similar "Holland Days" and the massive "French Spring" festival.
Tickets to the concert cost between three and 15 lats (four and 21 euros) and can be purchased through www.ticketservice.lv. In addition to the concert, the band plans to release a CD entitled "Ziemelu Pavasaris."
Nordic and Latvian Folk Songs in Jazz Arrangements
Great Guild, Amatu 6
May 18, 7 p.m.
