A new sound for Riga

On November 9, 2024, legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis joined forces with the Latvian Radio Big Band at Palladium Riga. Conceived by Aigars Nords and saxophonist Dāvis Jurka, the idea of Pink Noise was simple: blur the borders between jazz, pop, and fusion, fill the city with style, and give people a fresh reason to love Riga.

What began as one night expanded into a full multi-day festival across the capital.

Palladium hosted heavyweight double-bills designed to erase genre snobbery:

Night 1: Fusion outfit LUPA (led by our own Dāvis Jurka) shared the stage with pop masters Instrumenti.

‍Night 2: The Kārlis Auziņš Double Trio set the room before Kamasi Washington and his band delivered a mindblowing Fearless Movement set that drew fans from 22 countries. Kamasi’s band included Rickey Washington (Saxophone, Flute), Igmar Thomas (Trumpet), Brandon Coleman (Keys), Tony Austin (Drums), DJ Battlecat (Turntables), Miles Mosley (Bass), Patrice Quinn (Vocals).

Across the week, the music spilled over to M/Darbnīca with sets by CLAPPER, Vadims Dmitrijevs, the Kilian Sladek Quartet, and a soulful Amy Winehouse tribute. Headliners - including Kamasi, Miles Mosley, Brandon Coleman, Tony Austin - showed up for late-night jam sessions, while our Bubble Lounge paired vintage Champagnes directly with the Palladium soundscape.

When asked who should follow him, Kamasi & Miles Mosley handed us their choice: London saxophonist Nubya Garcia.

Kamasi’s album suggestion:
Miles Davis, In a Silent Way, 1969

To give the music room to breathe, Pink Noise shifted into a two-session annual rhythm:

Spring Session (April 2026):

Launched on an intimate scale at M/House of Jazz with electro-acoustic artist Laryssa Kim alongside emerging Latvian vocals or Three Voices (Gerda Timrota, JULIANNA, and Marija Valmiera).

Moving to Palladium, Nubya Garcia and her quartet (Lyle Barton, Sam Jones, Max Luthert) delivered a masterclass in spontaneous jazz, kicked off by DJ Toms Grēviņš on vinyl and followed by Blues for Kids the following Sunday.

Nubya’s album suggestion:
Dexter Gordon, Go!, 1962

The Spring session culminated with the debut of Intars Busulis & the Lush Life Quintet featuring Gints Pabērzs (tenor sax), Matīss Žilinskis (piano), Toms Poišs (base) and Rūdolfs Dankfelds (drums). Matīss Žilinskis premiered his piece “Sulīgā dzīve” (in a nod to Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life), while the rest of the set was loaded with classics like Nature Boy, Corcovado, Atvadas vasarai, Dedicated to You, Still Crazy After All These Years, Blue Trane (ft. Dāvis Jurka), I'm A Fool to Want You, Kāpēc, Liquid Spirit, and Hallelujah I Love Her So (ft. Aigars Nords).

Autumn Session (November 2026):

Culminating in the landmark Baltic debut of Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at Dailes Theatre.

What started as an ambitious experiment is now a living city rhythm - built by fans, recommended by the artists themselves, and rooted in a genuine love for Riga.