24. Rigas Ritmi 3.–6.7.2024
The four-day festival Rigas Ritmi offered a total of 16 concerts at the beginning of July. Improvisation, jazz and world music were heard on four different stages in the capital of Latvia. In addition, the program of the event included master classes by four foreign performers in the first studio of Latvian Radio.
24. The international stars of Rigas Ritmi were Cuban pianist Jorge Luis Pacheco, American singer José James, Italian guitarist Antonio Forcione and Italian bandoneonist Daniele di Bonaventura, who performed with the host country's chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga.
Cuban pianist Jorge Luis Pacheco is known for his flash technique.
The three quartets of the Noass club, led by clarinetist Indriķis Veitners, trombonist Vadims Dmitrijev and saxophonist Toms Rudzinskis, brought the jazziest expression to the set. Finland was represented at this Jersika Records label night by pianist Tuomo Uusitalo, whose Rhodes skills were heard in no less than two bands.
The main concerts were played in the courtyard of the Riga Cathedral and in the floating Noass art center in Väinäjoki. Club nights and jams were organized in hotels in the city center, in Radisson Blu Latvija's Riga Jazz Lounge and Aston Hotel Riga's Lounge Fenikssi.
The trio of Matīss Žilinskis, who played the first concert of this year's festival, had the honor of opening the new stage Lounge Fenikss. The pianist has profiled himself in the top ranks of the youngest generation of jazz musicians with his good-natured attitude and his music that joyfully leaps across borders.
This year, the program was scheduled for different days so that you could experience all the main concerts in their entirety without having to make unpleasant choices due to overlapping schedules. The multidimensional coverage drew the audience well without looking at the place.
Rigas Ritmi attracted a multi-age audience.
Rigas Ritmi is one of the most interesting music events in the Baltics. A green urban milieu combined with a multidimensional program and excellent services is a working combination. The festival, which turns 25 next year, has indeed become an integral part of the region's cultural life, and it has also been noticed internationally.
Riga is a green festival city
The European Festival Association awarded Rigas Ritmi the prestigious EFFE Label this year as well, when evaluating the artistic program, the quality of the organization and the importance of the festival in the international community.
Māris Briežkalns is responsible for the program of the award-winning Rigas Ritmi
Rigas Ritmi's artistic director Māris Briežkalns expressed his satisfaction after the event: "The audience feedback has been encouraging throughout. In addition to the concerts, the workshops have been filled and local young musicians have participated," said Briežkalns.
Briežkalns is an active jazz drummer in civilian life. He will play his next gig with his quintet in November at London's Ronnie Scott's, with vocalist Jessica Radcliffe as the soloist.
In addition to the usual meat, fish and vegetable options, poultry and various seafood from shellfish to mussels are often available at reasonable prices in large-scale restaurants. At the foot of the festival's main stage, for example, Gūtenbergs roof terrace offers food for every taste in addition to a great city view.
Cuban pianism and soul jazz
Many Cuban pianists, such as Pedro “Peruchín” Nolasco Jústiz Rodríguez, Bebo Valdés, Rubén González, Chucho Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Roberto Fonseca, have each in turn made an impression on the world.
Jorge Luis Pacheco (b. 1984) is one of the newest ambassadors of the industry. He is known as a fast-handed player whose music includes references ranging from Chopin to the Bee Gees' How Deep Is Your Love and Beethoven's Ode to Joy.
Jorge Luis Pacheco brought a breeze from Cuba with his ensemble.
Pachego opened the Riga concert with Guantanamera, which he also sang. The lightning-fingered cannonade was accompanied by a tight band that included bassist Randolph Chacon Paz, percussionists Alexander Scull Castillo and Bernardo Aristarco Perez Campos.
Māris Briežkalns, also known as a great drummer, gave instructions on how to use the chicken shake before Pacheco's concert
Rigas Ritmi will in turn celebrate a quarter of a century next year. The next, the 25th Rigas Ritmi Festival will take place in Riga on July 2-5, 2025.