"Contemporary Music Center''/ "Mūsdienu Mūzikas Centrs" (MMC) was established in 1997 as a public organization with the aim of supporting the growth of Latvian musicians, promoting the development of music-related events and offering musicians the opportunity to gain additional education and practice in music genres related to jazz and improvisation art.
The foundation's main goal was to create a unique event based on the idea of a combined festival and master classes. As a result of such an event, the visitors get learning and concert experience synchronously, while the listeners witness high-quality concerts, in which not only professionals and winners of high awards of the music industry but also young musicians participate.
MMC is characterized by the following areas of activity:
organizing festivals, music competitions and concerts, organizing master classes, as well as publishing sound recordings.
Main project are:
Music festival "Rīgas Ritmi", the project "Rigas Ritmi Showcase", the International Jazz Artists Contest "Riga Jazz Stage", the concert series "Art of Riga Jazz" and "LV Jazz Series".
In 2009, Māris Briežkalns, a member of the board of the foundation, was awarded the Order of Three Stars for his bright creative activity in Latvian jazz music, for his merits in educating young jazz musicians and popularizing the name of Latvia.
MMC main tasks:
1. Popularize high-class domestic and foreign music in Latvia, ensure the creation and exchange of high-quality musical programs, as well as international connections;
2. Give young musicians and interested parties the opportunity to attend master classes led by world-renowned artists and pedagogues, thereby promoting the Latvian jazz music scene as competitive on an international scale;
3. Over time, improve the quality of organized events in Latvia;
4. To present Latvia's best jazz and improvisational music performers to producers and festival directors from all over the world in order to promote the growth of the level of professionalism, the popularity and recognition of Latvian performers abroad, as well as the export of Latvian music abroad;
The "Rīgas Ritmi" festival is a real musical celebration with the participation of outstanding artists, among them were such world-class artists as Bobby McFerrin, Diane Reeves, Take 6, Richard Bona, BBC Big Band, Avishai Cohen, Patti Austin, Medeski Martin & Wood, Robert Glasper, Diana Schuur, Scott Hamilton, Freddy Cole, The Yellowjackets, Victor Wooten, Buika, Astillero, Jojo Mayer, Grace Kelly, Eldar, Gerald Clayton, as well as the most talented musicians from Latvia.
The festivals, competitions of young jazz artists, concerts and master classes, and showcase projects organized by MMC stimulate interest in modern jazz and rhythmic music, create opportunities to get acquainted with jazz music stars and outstanding world music professionals.
MMC's publishing activity is related to the popularization of jazz music, producing such records as: "Kur tu teci" (Latvian folk songs in jazz arrangements), "Rainy Day" with the jazz trio of Briežkalns, Galenieks, Smirnovs, "Baltic Saga - Baltic Jazz Trio", "Bach-Kamēr-Pauls", "Jazz in Latvia", "Tres Aquas", "Latvian Evergreens" - Māris Briežkalns Quintet, "Zarbugans" - Laima Jansone Trio, "Pauls plays Kancheli", "Jazz in Latvia 2014".