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Jelgavas Big Band

Jelgavas's big band is one of the basic values of the Latvian jazz music–union of professional musicians with history and traditions since 1991. From the beginning and also now the art director and conductor is Raitis Ašmanis and under his leadership the band mostly performs jazz standards and music of popular latvian and foreign composers.

Over 25 years Jelgava’s bigband regulary has performed in various towns in Latvia and also had been in concert tours all over the world – Baltic states, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, Peru. The bigband has participated in many competitions and have earned prizes. In November of 2006 Big Band won second place prize in world wide jazz musicians contest – festival “Swingin’ Saxonia” (Germany) in Big Band category and second place prize in Combo band category. In 2010 and 2012 Big Band won the First place prizes at the same festival.

In 2016-18, Big Band has allready played 80 concerts in tour in Latvia -“Frank Sinatra 100”- concert in two parts with the best hits of Frank Sinatra.

In 2017, Jelgava’s Big Band participated in one of the top competitions for bigbands in Europe– Corendon International Big Band Competition, which took place in the Netherlands. Big Band won the 2nd prize in the 1st Class.

Jelgava’s Big Band has participated also in productions of the Latvian National theatre – Christmas productions and Dita Lūriņa programme „The Dream about Broadway”. Big Band has also participated in various TV broadcasts and shows, it performs often in dance events.

In 2007 Jelgava’s Big Band published it’s CD, wich is made together with Raimonds Pauls, Intars Busulis, Ieva Kerēvica, Olga Pīrāgs and Laimis Rācenājs. Since 1991 the Big Band has worked together with almost all artists of latvian jazz and popular music: Raimonds Pauls, Raimonds Ozols, Inga Bērziņa, Olga Pīrāgs, Intars Busulis, Ance Krauze, Marija Naumova, Ieva Kerēvica, Aija Vītoliņa, Normunds Rutulis, vocal group „Framest”, Laimis Rācenājs, Linda Leen, Niks Gothams, Daumants Kalniņš etc. Almost all latvian jazz musicians have played in Jelgava’s Big Band shorter or longer time. During the last years, the Big Band has made various concert programmes together with Jelgava’s chamber orchestra, performing contemporary music and jazz classics.

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Performance / Tour

Jelgavas Big Band Brings Latvian Music Arranged By American Pianist Michael Abene to DC on October 4th

Jelgavas Big Band Brings Latvian Music Arranged By American Pianist Michael Abene to DC on October 4th

Source: Liga Brige

On October 4, 2019, Latvia is presenting a jazz concert by the Jelgava Big Band at the Organization of American States on the on the Occasion of 130 years since the First International Conference of American States and in anticipation of the 25th anniversary in 2020 since Latvia is a Permanent Observer at the OAS. Venue Organization of American States 200 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20006 Date: October 4, 2019 Time: 6:30pm

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