Euroradio Jazz Orchestra played Kirke Karja’s works

Euroradio Jazz Orchestra performed in Latvia in November 9 and 10. The orchestra performed works by Kirke Karja and other Baltic composers.

Euroradio Jazz Orchestra had 17 members from various Estonian countries and the USA. The works were from three Baltic composers/directors: Kirke Karja (Estonia), Dainius Pulauskas (Lithuania) and Kārlis Vanags (Latvia). Euroradio Jazz Orchestra is a project orchestra that was established in 1965, and it’s run by European Broadcast Union. The orchestra plays in a different country each year, this year its two concerts took place in Latvia.

Kirke Karja said that the quality of musicians was balanced and extremely high. ‘All the bandsmen were strong team players as a group and very interesting musicians individually. All the musicians write music themselves, they are bandleaders and many of them even have their own orchestras,’ told Kirke. Alto saxophone player Mairo Marjamaa was another Estonian involved in the project.

Kirke said that it was a real honour to be invited to the project. ‘Neither as a composer nor as a musician had I ever participated in something so demanding and with so much responsibility. I was already familiar with many musicians, so it was particularly easy and enjoyable to work with them. Their work ethic was very professional; they carried out group rehearsals on their own and even made suggestions about parts that needed more attention while rehearsing or conducting. This kind of collaboration suits me extremely well,” commented Kirke on her positive experience.