Behind every project, showcase and international collaboration is a team dedicated to strengthening Latvia's jazz community. We work closely with artists, festivals, venues and partners to create opportunities, build connections and bring Latvian jazz to audiences around the world.
Dāvis Jurka is a Latvian saxophonist, composer, arranger, and the director of the Latvian Radio Big Band. He is an active figure in Latvia’s jazz music scene, whose professional work combines the creation of new music with his involvement in one of Latvia’s most significant professional jazz ensembles.
Together with the Latvian Radio Big Band, Dāvis Jurka works on diverse concert programs that encompass both big band and jazz traditions as well as a contemporary, cross-genre repertoire. The ensemble regularly collaborates with Latvian and internationally recognized soloists, composers, and conductors, while promoting the creation of new Latvian jazz music and its international recognition.
As a member of the Latvian Radio Big Band, Dāvis Jurka is part of Latvia’s jazz ecosystem, which brings together professional performers, composers, a new generation of musicians, and the international jazz scene.
Mareks Ameriks is a Latvian music producer, musician and the founder of Jersika Records — an independent jazz and improvised music label established in Riga in 2017.
Through Jersika Records, Mareks documents and promotes Latvia’s contemporary jazz scene while also preserving important chapters of its musical history. The label has become known for its strong focus on vinyl and analogue recording practices, with many releases recorded live directly to reel-to-reel tape and produced with particular attention to the warmth and authenticity of the original sound.
As a producer, Mareks has worked with a wide range of Latvian jazz musicians and ensembles, and the Jersika Records catalogue spans contemporary jazz, improvisation and archival recordings. His work connects recording, production and music heritage with a broader ambition to bring Latvian jazz to international audiences.
Alongside his work as a producer and label founder, Mareks is an active musician and vinyl DJ, performing as a drummer with Latvian bands including Rīgas Modes and Satellites LV.
Kārlis Vanags is a Latvian saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor, and one of the key figures behind the artistic development of the Latvian Radio Big Band. His work combines performance, composition and orchestral leadership, contributing significantly to the development of contemporary big band music in Latvia.
As a composer and arranger, Vanags has created original works and arrangements for the Latvian Radio Big Band, exploring the possibilities of the big band format through contemporary jazz while maintaining a strong connection to the genre’s traditions. His musical language is shaped by improvisation, ensemble interaction and a distinctive approach to orchestration.
Throughout his career, Kārlis Vanags has collaborated with a wide range of Latvian and international musicians, participating in projects that connect Latvia’s jazz scene with the broader European and international jazz community.
Through his work with the Latvian Radio Big Band, Vanags contributes to the creation of new repertoire, artistic collaborations and the continued development of professional jazz in Latvia, strengthening the orchestra’s role as one of the country’s leading jazz ensembles.
Mārtiņš Saulspurēns is a Latvian audio engineer, microphone designer and long-time jazz enthusiast whose work connects sound technology with a deep engagement in jazz culture and its history.
Internationally, Saulspurēns is best known for his contribution to the development of professional studio microphones. He was one of the key figures behind BLUE Microphones, contributing to the design and development of the company’s microphones and helping establish a brand that became internationally recognised in professional recording. Industry sources have described him as a leading Latvian microphone expert and credited him with designing BLUE microphone technology.
Alongside his work in audio engineering, Saulspurēns has maintained a long-standing connection to Latvia’s jazz community. He has been an avid jazz record collector and a valuable source of knowledge about Latvian jazz history, preserving stories and information about musicians and the development of the local scene. His record collection and knowledge also provided access to jazz recordings at a time when international music was considerably more difficult to obtain in Latvia.
Maija is a cultural entrepreneur, producer, and the founder of M/House of Jazz, one of Latvia's leading venues dedicated to jazz and improvised music. Through her work, she has helped establish a vibrant meeting place where musicians, audiences and cultural professionals come together, creating opportunities for artistic exchange, live performance and community building.
At Jazz Latvia, Maija contributes her extensive experience in venue development, cultural programming and partnership building. Her close connection to the local music scene and international network helps strengthen collaborations between artists, festivals, venues and organisations, ensuring that Latvian jazz continues to grow both locally and internationally.
