ORIGINALLY...
Latvian Radio Bigband was founded in 1966 and it performed under the name "Television and Radio Variety Orchestra of the Latvian SSR". In 1992, it was renamed to "Latvian Radio Orchestra of Jazz Music", until it finally became the Latvian Radio Bigband. The first leader and conductor of the bigband was the composer Ringolds Ore, but from 1968 to 1991, the bigband was led by Alnis Zaķis. Raimonds Pauls and Gunārs Rozenbergs also led the Latvian Radio bigband. Aleksandrs Smirnovs, Vitalijs Dolgovs and others also worked with the team. Unfortunately, in 1996, this only one professional jazz orchestra in Latvia - Latvian Radio Bigband - was liquidated. However, with the growing relevance of jazz music in Latvia, and the growing interest of listeners and also musicians in the genre of jazz music, after a 16-year break, inspired by fresh ideas, the Latvian Radio bigband was revived at the end of 2012. Authors of the idea - Māris Briežkalns, Kārlis Vanags and bigband Patron and artistic consultant - Maestro Raimonds Pauls.
NOWADAYS...
...the bigband is led by Kārlis Vanags (artistic director), Dāvis Jurka (executive director) and the Patron of the bigband - Maestro Raimonds Pauls - follows the creative routine of the band as an artistic consultant.
The first performance of the renewed Latvian Radio bigband was collaborating with one of the world's leading jazz vocalists - Kurt Elling (USA) and Roberta Gambarini (ITA). Since its restoration, the bigband has played with many world-class musicians - James Morrison, Seamus Blake, Randy Brecker, Kurt Rosenvinkel, Marius Nesset, JoJo Mayer, Richard Bona, Michael Pipoquinha, Lars Lindgren, Alan Harris, Rutie Foster, Diane Shur, Nils Landgren, Lars Moller, Marshall Gilkes, Baptiste Herbin, Ole Onabule, Line Kruse, Dayme Arocena, Donny McCasslin, etc.
In the centenary of the Latvian state in 2018 with sold-out concerts and standing ovations, the Latvian Radio bigband was heartily welcomed in the prestigious US concert halls: the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington and the Lincoln Center in New York, as well as together with Randy Brecker at the Jazz Baltica festival in Germany.
In 2023, the Latvian Radio bigband received the Great Music Award for high-quality performance throughout the year.
Latvijas Radio bigband is an integral part of Latvian cultural life, which under the leadership of Kārlis Vanags provides listeners with a high-quality musical offer both in Latvia and abroad.
