Summer's most vibrant event in the heart of Riga has concluded

More than 20 spectacular concerts, 7 workshops, discussion with representatives of music industry, Showcase program and jam session every evening – these were the highlights of „Rigas Ritmi Festival”.
 
It seems that the festival shook the whole Riga – there were 5 concert venues – Riga Congress Centre, Music House DAILE, Leisure Park EGLE, Jazz cub „Trompete” and Orgio Summer Stage. Within the extensive concert program there were 10 free-of-charge concerts and overall 74 musicians from 14 different countries took part in the festival.
 
This year the main festival’s concerts took place at Riga Congress Centre and gathered such artists as Dianne Reeves, enchanting everyone with her limitless vocal skills, the humorous French duet Peirani & Parisien, guitar duet from Brazil – Cavalcante & Pipoquinha, the new Cuban diva Yilian Canizares, America’s new talent Justin Kauflin, moving the audience with his affective performance, and also the exquisite multi-instrumentalist, jazz legend from Australia – James Morrison together with Latvian Radio big band presenting the their newly released album „Mare Balticum”.
 
Already 3 years in a row festival features the concert program “Olainfarm Jazz Nights”. This year concerts took place at Music House DAILE. Here you could enjoy a real musical journey – starting with Brazilian vibes from Liz Rosa Quartet in the first evening, continuing with the new talent from Chile – singer and guitarist Camila Meza, and in conclusion – the outstanding band from France – Paris Combo.
 
One of the festival’s cornerstones has always been the workshops. This year was not an exception – festival featured an extensive workshop program: Derek Brown (beatbox, saxophone), Michael Pipoquinha (bass guitar), Caina Cavalcante (guitar), Justin Kauflin (piano), Camila Meza (guitar, vocal), Moussa Cissokho (kora) and Francois Archanjo (percussion). The workshops gathered approximately 80 participants – music students, educators, musicians and others. Everyone could participate by asking questions and playing together with the musicians.
Various local as well as some foreign artists performed at the Leisure Park EGLE and Jazz Club „Trompete” during the Showcase program. Within experts of the Showcase program were representatives of music industry from Lithuania, Russia, USA, Brazil and Finland. They also took part in the panel discussion on July 2nd, expressing their fondness of the festival and the performances of the Showcase bands.
 
Each day concluded with a concert and jam session at Jazz Club „Trompete”, gathering everyone to jam together and to celebrate the festival.
 
During the festival a survey was carried out to find out audience’s opinion. It was revealed that most of the festival’s audience comes from Riga and attends the festival each year. Nevertheless, 25% of the respondents attended the festival for the first time. The majority (78%) has rated the program as excellent, while 61% rated also the organization of the festival as excellent. Based on the data, almost 30% got the information about the festival from friends or relatives. The most favorite concert of all has been the Justin Kauflin + James Morrison & LRBB concert on July 2nd – 89% respondents have given the highest score.
 
See you at the winter and spring sessions of „Rigas Ritmi Festival”!


Feel the rhythm!