XXVIII Saulkrasti Jazz Festival 2026. FESTIVAL PASS (17.07.-18.07.2026)

XXVIII Saulkrasti Jazz Festival 2026. Concert lineup:

17.07.2026 19:00

Baltic Drummers League FINAL | Latvia / Lithuania / Estonia

« NICOLAS VICCARO Xperience » | France

Ventspils Big Band & Anna Wibe — "Spectrum" | Latvia

18.07.2026 19:00

ENTER PLAY & CHERYL "PEPSII" RILEY | USA / UK

Radio Big Band "Buddy Rich Tribute" | Latvia

The festival is well known not only in Latvia but also far beyond its borders and has created a sustainable position in the minds of the audience as a festival that keeps high criteria of the entertainment quality. Saulkrasti Jazz Festival began in 1997 and provides a wide range of jazz music concerts with artists from all around the world.

🎷An hour before the concert, a café and a playground for small jazz lovers will open at the Saulkrasti Open Air Stage ☺

🎷So that the parents can enjoy the concert in peace, we will take care of order and safety in the playground!Baltic Drummers League FINALLatvia / Lithuania / EstoniaThe Baltic Drummer League is a drummers competition, in which the best and most skilled drummers in the age category up to 25 years old are determined. The competition is organized by Saulkrasti Jazz in cooperation with musical instrument manufacturers Yamaha and Paiste, which allows to assess the mastery of Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian drummers and motivates the most talented musicians to fight for the main prize of the competition.« NICOLAS VICCARO Xperience »FranceOften described as "the bassist's dream drummer, Nicolas Viccaro has become one of the most in-demand drummers on the international scene. Moving efforilessly between modern jazz. rock and world music, he has performed alongside renowned artists such as John McLaughlin, Richard Bona, Dominic Miller, Kinga Glyk, Bill Evans, Biréli Lagrène, Mike Stern, Etienne Mbappé, Sylvain Luc, Scott Kinsey and Dave Stewart, among many others.

2026 marks the launch of his new project: Nicolas Viccaro Xperience. A band that reflects his distinctive musical voice powerful yet subtle, blending electric energy with an organic groove.

Joined by some of the finest musicians of their generation, Viccaro delivers a dynamic and immersive live experience where groove, virtuosity and musical exploration meet on stage.Ventspils Big Band & Anna Wibe — "Spectrum"LatviaAnna Wibe and Ventspils Big Band – Spectrum is a series of original compositions by Anna Wibe, created especially for the Ventspils Big Band and featuring piano, vocals, and trumpet as solo instruments. In the summer of 2026, the program’s recording is planned to be released in album format, including compositions in a modern jazz style that sound unique, fresh, and contemporary. The compositions are designed to highlight the big band wind section with musically rich and diverse timbres, as well as the rhythm section and especially the piano, showcasing both technical and rhythmic skills, and giving soloists freedom for improvisation and expressive sound.

The following soloists have been invited to participate in this project:

Singer Linda Kanter from Estonia, who has proven herself to be a highly virtuosic and talented performer both in the Baltic states and beyond.

Trumpeter Gatis Gorkuša – a Latvian trumpeter and laureate of several international competitions, who is currently very active in concerts with various well-known Latvian ensembles, including the Latvian Radio Big Band and The Sound Poets, among others.

The Ventspils Big Band is led by saxophonist Renārs Lācis, who has participated in numerous significant projects in Latvian jazz history, including the City Jazz Big Band (with which he received the Latvian Music Recording of the Year award in 2012), the Latvian Radio Big Band, the Silvesteri Orkesteri, and others. His name in Latvia is associated not only with an excellent performer, but also with a distinguished jazz educator and big band leader, who regularly collaborates with internationally and locally recognized soloists, thus contributing to the growth and professional sound of the Ventspils Big Band.

The Ventspils Big Band is a high-level musical ensemble consisting of both young and talented students and graduates of the Ventspils Music High School, as well as professional musicians. It is one of the cornerstones of Ventspils’ cultural life.

Anna Wibe is a jazz pianist and composer from Latvia who has participated in various musical projects both in the Baltic states and in Denmark, Sweden, Italy, and Bangladesh. In 2020, Anna released her debut CD album – Anna Wibe – Vibes.

For more information visit https://saulkrastijazz.lv/en/events/20-friday-concert ENTER PLAY & CHERYL "PEPSII" RILEYUSA / UKA performance by vocalist Cheryl Pepsii Riley accompanied by the international trio Enterplay is a rare opportunity to hear global jazz superstars share one stage. The depth of sound, precision of intonation, and creative inventiveness of the musicians create a musical tapestry worthy of the world’s top festival stages.

The rhythmic foundation of the project is provided by legendary New York drummer Nathaniel Townsley, known for his collaborations with Joe Zawimul, Public Enemy, Stevie Wonder, and Richard Bona. His elegant groove and dynamic versatility captivate both sophisticated listeners and wide audiences alike.Keyboardist Tomasz Bura, renowned for his work with Guthrie Govan and Incognito, seamlessly blends the refinement of classical tradition with the freedom of jazz idioms, bringing freshness and expressiveness to the ensemble's sound.

Bassist Anton Davidyants has collaborated with Leonid Agutin, Nikolai Noskov, Batyrkhan Shukenov, Elka, Soso Pavliashvili, as well as with Gregory Porter, Gergo Borlai, Damien Schmitt, Virgil Donati, Guthrie Govan, the German group Panzerballett, and many other global legends. Thanks to the textural richness and virtuosic rhythmic phrasing of his bass lines, he organically ties together the ensemble's musical threads, enhancing their volume and structural coherence.

Cheryl Pepsii Riley’s vocals, deeply rooted in soul and gospel traditions, are distinguished by a rich timbre, wide range, and masterful melodic interpretation. Every piece she performs becomes a captivating, original, and emotionally charged work of art. Enterplay’s music fuses elements of fusion, jazz-rock, world music, funk, and soul to create unpredictable yet remarkably harmonious sonic landscapes.Radio Big Band "Buddy Rich Tribute"LatviaDRUMS AND BIG BAND: TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY BUDDY RICHParticipating: Latvian Radio Big Band, soloists - Artis Orubs, Andris Buiķis and Kristaps Jānis Sokolovs

The Saulkrasti Jazz Festival offers an opportunity to experience an unforgettable concert - a tribute to the legendary drummer Buddy Rich, who is considered one of the best and most influential jazz percussionists of all time! His creative work began in the 1930s, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with big bands (including the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw). His signature was incredibly fast drumming, precision, as well as relentless energy, which has inspired countless generations. In the spotlight of the concert - drums and rhythm as the heart of the big band!

Together with the Latvian Radio Big Band, three percussionists will take to the stage - Artis Orubs, Andris Buiķis and Kristaps Jānis Sokolovs. This program is not just a retrospective - it is a tribute to the heart and pulse of big band music - rhythm!

Andris Buiķis is one of the most sought-after and professional drummers in Latvia, who is equally active as a concert and studio musician. He has worked in “Silvesteri Okesteri”, “City Jazz Big Band”, “Pump Trio”, “Beat Retro Scratch”, Arnis Mednis “JazzQ”, Jānis Stībelis’s supporting band. For several years he was the drummer of the Latvian rock’n’roll band “Keksi”, currently the drummer of the band “Very Cool People”. He has collaborated with the Riga Chamber Musicians and “Sinfonietta Riga”, the Latvian Radio Big Band. He has performed with Laima Vaikule,

Intar Busuli, Amber, Nika Gotham, Raimonds Macatas, Raimonds Pauls, Uldis Marhilēvičs and many others. He actively plays and works with international bands such as “The Brag Pack”, “K Trio” and “Messhugguys”. The musician is the winner of the Grand Prix in the “Jazz drums” nomination of the International Competition “Sony Jazz Stage 2008”. Together with the Daniel Mester Quartet, he won first place in the famous European Keep an Eye Jazz Competition. In turn, for the 2013 “K Trio” album titled “Meatball Evening” he won first place in 3 nominations at the Icelandic Music of the Year Award.

Andris Buiķis is also the ambassador of the Latvian-made drum brand "Bro Creation". He is also actively involved in the group “Kolektīvā Indivīdu Masa”, the group “LUPA” nominated for several awards, and solo projects. Andris Buiķis was also a recipient of the VKKF Creative Scholarship in 2022.

Artis Orubs is one of the most famous Latvian jazz drummers who has expanded his knowledge beyond the borders of Latvia. The musician studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School, the Amsterdam Conservatory, but later returned to Latvia, where he studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Academy of Music. Orubs' talent extends beyond the framework of classical jazz - the artist has also turned to composition and production.

Artis has played with an impressive number of Latvian and internationally renowned musicians, while simultaneously holding the position of lead drummer in the Latvian Radio Big Band and teaching at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Jazz Department.

Kristaps Jānis Sokolovs is one of the brightest drummers of the new generation in Latvia.

At the age of six, he began learning to play the drums with Andžejs Graudas and Dairas Petrauskas. He continues to learn drums at the Riga Dome Choir School with Tālis Gżibovskis. He has worked in the drummer groups “The Clicks Jr.” and “Drum Line Latvia”. Laureate of various instrumental competitions.

The Latvian Radio Big Band was founded in 1966. The first name of the group was the Latvian SSR Television and Radio Variety Orchestra. In 1992, it was renamed the Latvian Radio Light and Jazz Music Orchestra, until it was called the Latvian Radio Big Band.

The first leader and conductor of the big band was the composer Ringolds Ore, but from 1968 to 1991, the big band was led by Alnis Zaķis. The Latvian Radio Big Band has also been led by Raimonds Pauls and Gunārs Rozenbergs. Aleksandrs Smirnovs, Vitaly Dolgovs and others have also worked with the group.

After regaining independence, in 1996, the only professional jazz orchestra in Latvia – the Latvian Radio Big Band – was liquidated. After the liquidation of the Radio Big Band, the development of the jazz movement was undertaken by the festival "Rīgas Ritmi" and regularly organizing projects with the participation of the big band, which collaborated with such foreign artists as Frank Foster, Dennis Rowland, James Morrison, Deodato and many others. Kārlis Vanags also made a great contribution by founding a big band school.

After a 16-year break, the Latvian Radio Big Band was reborn at the end of 2012, full of fresh ideas and strength. The renovated jazz collective initially operated on a project basis, establishing cooperation with the most talented musicians in Latvia, as well as engaging in the implementation of joint projects with foreign artists. The rebirth of the Latvian Jazz Orchestra in a new quality was undertaken by such Latvian jazzmen as Māris Briežkalns, Kārlis Vanags and, as the patron of the big band, Maestro Raimonds Pauls.

The first performance of the renovated Latvian Radio Big Band was with one of the world's leading jazz vocalists Kurt Eling and the Italian jazz diva - Roberta Gambarini. Since then, the big band has played with such brilliant musicians as James Morrison, Seamus Blake, Randy Brecker, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Marius Ness, Jojo Mayer, Richard Bony, Michael Pipoquinha, Alan Harris, Ruthie Foster and others, Diana Šhūra.

On the centennial of the Latvian state with sold-out concerts and standing ovations, the Latvian Radio Big Band was accepted into prestigious US concert halls: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington and Lincoln Center in New York, as well as together with Randy Brecker at the Jazz Baltica festival in Germany. He has released several music recordings, as well as participated in their creation.

Each big band performance is a special exchange of energy between musicians and the listener. Currently, the collective is an integral part of Latvian cultural life, and under the leadership of Kārlis Vanags, they are preparing new and interesting projects.

The big band has also been nominated for various awards several times – the LSM “100 grams of culture”, the Great Music Award, as well as the Recording of the Year Award “Golden Microphone”, this year, as well as in 2021.

For more information visit https://saulkrastijazz.lv/en/events/21-saturday-concert