Jazzeps / Day Jazz and Popular Music Competition will take place in Riga

The competition organized by JMRMV Jazz and Popular Music Department is the first event of its kind dedicated to Jazz guitar and jazz bass, which plays an important role in promoting and developing these instruments in Latvia. Individual contestants will be supported by professional Latvian jazz musicians Krist Saržants (keyboards), Pēteris Liepiņš (double bass/bass guitar) and Marek Login (percussion).

”Jazzep There is an important step in jazz and popular music education – for the first time in Latvia, young vocational secondary education students who learn guitar, bass guitar or double bass can compete in a professional environment. This competition not only promotes individual growth, but also strengthens the overall music environment, creating new contacts and collaboration opportunities, ”says Elvis Grafcov, its artistic director.

Participants will be judged by an international jury – Pran Kentra (guitarist, head of the Rhythmic Music Department of the Vilnius College), Tom Timofeyev (double bassist, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Jazz Music Department) and Matīss Chudars (guitarist, composer, composer).

Last year, the competition offered the opportunity to compete in jazz and popular music ensembles, but this year the focus is on individual instrumentalists. In the future, it is planned to continue jazz music traditions, including competitions in other categories, including dedicated wind instruments and keyboards.