Lūznava mannor as an oasis of Latgalian jazz

Šķiuņa Džezs 2022. Jazz in Latgale gaining momentum

For the fourth year in a row, at the end of August, Lūznava manor is filled with jazz music. Just a few short moments ago, the jazz festival «Šķiuņa Džezs 2022» has come to a grand finale for this year. This year the program consisted of four days full of various workshops and eight concerts. The festival was, as usual, hosted in the vast complex of Lūznava manor, but the workshops took place in rooms assigned according to musical specialties. Some participants got to spend time with the teachers in the parish building’s garage, some in other rooms of the culture house, and others in the «Culture Shed», but some got to enjoy the intricate rooms of the manor itself. The festival’s overall atmosphere painted a good picture of Latgalian sincerity and welcomeness, but the participants also had to prove they were able to work in a team setting.

Jazz workshops this year hosted 32 participants — seven guitarists, three bassists, four drummers, four saxophonists, two pianists, and, of course, twelve vocalists. The participants had the chance to study under such excellent teachers and performing artists from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia: Pranas Kentra — guitar and rhythm, Viktors Ritovs — piano, Artis Orubs — drums, Kestutis Vaiginis — saxophone, Linda Kantere — voice and Taavo Remmel — double bass. I have to say that this was also a unique experience for the teachers because, in the festivals’ concerts, they got to participate in the combos they were working with during the workshop session. This allowed the students to hear the stories of the teachers’ experiences and learn new techniques, as well as how every teacher plays and communicates with other musicians in a concert setting.

August 24, the first day of the festival, started with the opening event, where the participants met the teachers for the first time, heard the opening speech by the organizers, and received the necessary materials. Then the workshops began, mainly in a group setting, but each participant also had the opportunity to arrange a private session with the teachers, and that’s what other bassists and I did. In the afternoon, the combo rehearsals took place; this time, there was no division by level, so every participant got to study and play together with musicians of different experiences. Free time to practice your instrument followed after the combo rehearsal. At 8 pm, we met up in the «Culture Shed» to enjoy the concert of Ilona Kudiņa and her project«Baltic Transit», where we got to enjoy Ilona’s multifaceted compositions. Her level of technique and musicianship truly hit a high bar. As the very last composition, the ensemble performed war a Viktors Ritovs’ arrangement of the Latgalian folk song «Tuoļi dzeivoj». It’s curious that the festival’s opening act, «Trio Lipskis/Justs/Arbidāns», performed the same folk song the previous year. That only proves that Latgalians tend to value their culture since every year, the audience can enjoy at least one composition from this repertoire, demonstrating our Latgalian approach to organizing concerts.
A first jam session followed shortly after the concert; Artis Orubs, Ilona Kudiņa, Andris Grunte, Lauris Amantovs, and Karlīna Priedēna hosted it. Jam sessions in Lūznava are always held in a different manner than, for example, in Riga. The listeners perceive it more as a concert than background music for mundane conversations, which brings joy to my heart. That shows that the audience is very attentive and knows how to appreciate musicians’ professional qualities, leave the concert inspired, and then find themselves following their own steps from last night, which brings them to Lūznava once again.

The schedule for the workshops during the second day wasn’t much different from the first one — private sessions in the morning and combo rehearsals in the afternoon. Then, at 8 pm, another jam session began; this time, the opening act was from Jānis Ivanovs Rēzekme Music high school jazz department students, who the teachers later on joined. This came as a wonderful opportunity to hear the new generation playing, and for the young musicians, it was a chance to perform with their teachers.

The third workshop day was slightly different — instead of combo rehearsals, the students got to enjoy some free time to practice their instruments while those who would perform in the festival’s closing act got to prepare their set. That evening the festival’s audience had the chance to enjoy three outstanding concerts. «Broken Glass 4tet» from Lithuania was the first to perform; the ensemble leader was one of the workshop teachers, guitarist Pranass Kentra. The quartet played abstract modern jazz with very intricate instrumentation: guitar, trombone, tuba, and drums. The next act was from Estonia — «Linda Kanter & Taavo Remmel Band». This ensemble presented easier-to-perceive music, almost traditional jazz in their arrangement. Finally, «Mirage Jazz Orchestra» took to the stage after dark; they played a concert that made the audience move on a slightly chilly August evening. After the concert, we all went to the «Culture Shack» to enjoy the last public jam session. As usual at the «Šķiuņa džezs» festival, a jam was a place where the participants met up with the teachers on stage.

The last day of the festival started with the soundcheck for the workshop participants’ concerts that took place at 2 pm. Three combos performed in front of the audience, and the students presented different instrument lineups, various music genres, and colorful arrangements. A lot of friends and relatives of the workshop students came to listen to the ones they cared for, and they were as happy for their loved ones as the students were to have such an amazing opportunity to learn and experience. A much-needed and anticipated free time followed the concert, and at 6 pm, the first act of the festival’s closing event took to the stage. «Atis Andersons Organ Trio» with Artis Orubs on drums, Toms Rudzinskis on saxophone, and Atis Andersons on Hammond organ presented compositions from Atis’s new vinyl «Organic City». It is worth mentioning that one of the tunes the trio played was an arrangement of a Latgalian folk song, «Lokaties mežu gali», made by the founder of the festival, Toms Lipskis. The way Atis plays the organ left no hearts untouched.
«Kestutis Vaiginis Quartet» was the next to go on stage, and the musicians demonstrated a high level of professionalism and musicality. And that didn’t come as a surprise since the quartet consists of such notable musicians as Kestutis Vaiginis on saxophone, Kaspars Kurdeko on drums, Juuso Rinta on the bass, and Joonas Haavisto on piano.
The final act of the festival took to the stage at 9 pm; it was a wonderful performance by Rēzekne Big band together with workshop teachers Viktors Ritovs, Artis Orubs, Pranas Kentra, and Kestutis Vaiginis. An unofficial jam session followed after the concert and lasted long into the morning hours.

I have managed to collect several commentaries from the teachers during the festival. Every teacher I interviewed had to answer the same question: «What were your expectations before you arrived and what are your thoughts now?» Pranas Kentra from Lithuania said: «I have heard about this festival from a singer Vita Rusaitite. She has been the head of the jazz department in Vilnius, which was her connection to Lauris Anabtovs. Here students attended these workshops regularly and were very inspired by the number of jam sessions. Now Vita isn’t the head of the department any longer, and here I am. Lauris contacted me, and I was very excited to come because previously, I had no similar experiences; I had never worked at a summer jazz camp before. My impression varies. I came here during the night, so I had the feeling that I had arrived in the middle of nowhere. I hadn’t expected this place to be so beautiful. I like the relaxing atmosphere that this place holds. No strict rules; the students can choose which classes to attend and which to skip. I enjoyed the jam sessions immensely; what you guys are playing inspires me greatly! Especially you, guys from Rēzekne! You know how to play every instrument; that is unique. It’s obvious that your school has some sort of a trend if every student knows how to play bass, drums, piano, whatever instrument gets thrown at you! I think it’s vital to continue supporting this fashion trend! I don’t know how things are in Latvia, but music education for kids isn’t at such a high level in Lithuania. We have classical schools that are strict and serious, but they don’t have a jazz component. I see this problem in the university — the students come unprepared, which illustrates the vast gap we have in our educational system. I am quite sure that Latvia, and maybe Estonia, have similar problems.»

Kestutis Vaiginis: «You know, it’s hard to say because you can never know what to expect, even if you are already acquainted with the participants or with the ensembles that are going to perform. This year, but also last year, I saw a huge potential for growth both for the festival and participants. Each evening you learn new tunes and jam, and you wish to achieve some goals, and I think this is a wonderful place in Latvia to do just that.»

Viktors Ritovs: «I think it’s similar for me. Yesterday we discussed this problem Latvia has — a shortage of places that hosts jam sessions because the truth is that in our everyday lives, we play what we have to play instead of what we want. And that is a different setup entirely. I remember two years ago, when I taught here, there were the same people, the same young musicians, I had fun, but in these two years, they have learned so much and grown so much; I’m surprised! So, it’s important, good atmosphere, good mood, good music, good sound, no stress.»

«Šķiuņa džezs» gives young musicians an opportunity to gain experience while working with world-class musicians. This is a unique chance not only to listen to the velvety notes of jazz music but also to live with the musicians in the same environment, share a meal at the same table, and play together at jam sessions. Officially this is the fourth workshop year, but in reality, it’s the fifth because, on August 31, 2018, Lūznava manor held a concert series that became the necessary seed to grow into a festival. The listeners enjoyed performances from such projects as «Džezs dzied Aspaziju» and «Rudzinskis/Lipskis Quartet». Unfortunately, it was the first and the last concert that the festival’s instigator got to experience, but it was a start to something new; already, the following year, 2019, the idea of the festival became a reality. I remember Toms Lipskis said to me after that concert: «The thing I want to achieve is for Rēzekne to become a metropolis of Latvian jazz.» Now it’s in the hands of local jazz enthusiasts, and their inspiration and motivation never sleeps, trust me.

The following year is going to be even more spectacular, because «Šķiuņa džezs» will celebrate its fifth anniversary. There will be both — special guests and jam sessions till the morning hours. The Latvian jazz scene isn’t that vast, so everyone is invited and appreciated — listeners, and participants. So come visit us; we are fantastic! See you in Lūznava, at «Šķiuņa džezs 2023»!