Other events in Baltic States

The second international jazz festival – World Jazz Festival opening in Riga already this Friday, with Rietumu Bank support. In anticipation of this event, its organizers held a press conference , revealing how the festival will please jazz connoisseurs in upcoming weekend.

World Jazz Festival organizers – Igor Butman and Arkady Ukupnik, festival general producer Natalia Ukupnik and member of the Board of Rietumu Bank Alexander Gafin attended press conference held today at Mercure Hotel in city center.

As Igor Butman said: "I am very glad that our festival is held in Riga for the second year. I love this city, it is associated with many important stages of my career – here I got my first professional recognition. Strong jazz traditions always were present here, which we strive to continue with World Jazz Festival."

In turn, a member of the Board of Rietumu Alexander Gafin, admitted that despite his vast experience in music festival and concert organization, last year, when jazz festival was first held in Riga, he felt a bit worried. However, the start of the project was extremely successful.

"Everyone knows that last year festival had resounding success, and it also attracts a lot of attention, jazz connoisseurs started to show interest in its program in advance. Bank clients and friends from Sweden, Germany and other countries asked questions about the festival. We now see that many spectators came from neighboring countries, including Poland, Belarus, a delegation from Georgia, as well as guests from overseas. Therefore, it is safe to say that the festival has gone international, judging not only by participants, but also the audience.

I believe that World Jazz Festival raises Riga and Latvia cultural life one level further. Therefore, it is very important for Riga – such activities attract many music appreciators and tourists, as well as improve credibility and reputation of Latvian capital, "- Alexander Gafin noted.