Young jazz musicians to shine through summer concert competition

Concert programme director Paula Ezermane says about the idea: "The goal of the competition is to provide a platform for young musicians, create collaborations, and give the initiative to create original music, original content, and arrangements. Musicians from Rīga, Ventspils, Liepāja, as well as those studying abroad, will participate in this competition - this is a place where everyone can come together and collaborate." "There are two main prizes – one of them is a performance at "Riga Music Week", showing yourself to an international jury, professionals, journalists. The other is a small concert tour in Denmark." The musicians are evaluated in several categories by members of the Latvian Jazz Association and other industry professionals. Jazz musician Dāvis Jurka is among them: "In addition to the classic criteria, which are the quality of the playing, the interplay, improvisation, the richness of the musical language, all those things, we have included a section called 'export-ready', which would be readiness to appear outside Latvia, because, as we know, "M/Darbnīca" is also actively working on creating cooperation with foreign countries, creating the export of musicians and the exchange of incoming musicians." Young musicians compete for victory in the competition in a series of eight concerts. It was opened by trumpeter Jēkabs Reinis' "Quintet of Music", whose program included both original compositions and jazz classics, including works by Gunārs Rozenbergs. "Music never stands still, music always moves forward, and young people are the ones who will be able to lead it forward for the longest time. It is very important to give young musicians the opportunity to show themselves," says Jēkabs Reinis.