Deniss Pashkevich Trio (LV)

Latvian musicians Deniss Pashkevich (saxophone, flute, synthesizers), Edvins Ozols (double bass) and Artis Orubs (drums) are three distinctive personalities brought together by a rare musical partnership. Their project combines spontaneity, freedom of improvisation and personal musical experience. The trio’s work blends swing, funk, old-school jazz, world music and rock rhythms, while the musicians deliberately avoid a commercial sound. The pieces to be performed at the concert are from their album “Code of Ethics 2”, released this year: a bold, avant-garde perspective on contemporary jazz that the musicians themselves call “a radical invitation into the world of modern jazz”.***The trio has already won recognition from international jazz critics: “Deniss knows exactly what he wants to achieve with his music. Colours, textures, sounds—all are created with taste and mastery. Listen closely to the atmosphere he creates: it is distinctive and unique. A wonderful presentation!” — David Liebman (jazz educator, saxophonist, composer). “In a world where everything is often communicated far too directly, it is wonderful to hear music that draws you in rather than pushing you away. Perfectly subtle. Deniss’s playing is sincere and full of nuance. The group has wonderful chemistry and a mature presence. ‘There isn’t a single unnecessary note here. Many recordings today sound as if they came from rehearsals or competitions, while your music is pure and real. A great pleasure to listen to. Congratulations.’” — Jerry Bergonzi (saxophonist, composer and educator). “The sounds, rhythms and musical structures created by this trio are unheard-of, and the experience stays with you even after many listens. For those of us who, like me, seek to reproduce sound as faithfully as possible, this is pure gold.” — Amedeo Schembri (audio equipment designer).***Deniss Pashkevich is an award-winning saxophonist, flautist, composer, producer, improviser and educator, and one of the most prominent figures on the Baltic jazz scene. His name is included in the “European Jazz Tree”, a list of significant European jazz artists. Deniss Paškevičs regularly performs with world-class musicians, including Randy Brecker, Seamus Blake, Aaron Parks, Jackie Terrasson, Tim Hagans and others, and also takes part in festivals around the world. Deniss plays a custom instrument made especially for him: a “Riga Winds ‘Pashkevich Signature’” tenor saxophone, created in collaboration with German master craftsman Bernd Schille. Edvīns Ozols is a double bassist and skilled bass guitarist. He actively performs and records music in various jazz projects and collaborates with prominent Latvian artists. His playing is distinguished by technical precision, musical intuition and the ability to adapt to different stylistic contexts, earning him esteem among fellow musicians and audiences alike. Artis Orubs is a talented Latvian jazz drummer who broadened his expertise beyond Latvia. He studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School and at the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam, then returned to Latvia to study at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. A. Orubs’s talent extends beyond classic jazz; he has also turned to composition and production. Artis has played with an impressive number of well-known Latvian and international musicians, while also serving as principal drummer in the Latvian Radio Big Band and teaching in the jazz department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music.