The Duo ‘Vega Trails’ to Perform in Ventspils
21.04.2022 - 10:11
On 15 May, the London-based double-bass and wind duo ‘Vega Trails’ will give their only concert in Latvia, in the Concert Hall ‘Latvija’, within the cycle of contemporary music sessions ‘Ma’.
The duo 'Vega Trails' is a project recently born out of a desire of two musicians of other well-known British contemporary instrumental music bands - the double-bassist and composer Milo Fitzpatrick, a founder member of the ensemble 'Portico Quartet', and the saxophonist Jordan Smart, member of the trio 'Mammal Hands'. The paths of these two bands crossed over years, bringing the musicians together, and now it only seems natural for them to jointly bring the elements of bass and melody to the foreground in their rawest form.
During the unpredictably long lockdown due to the pandemic, Milo Fitzpatrick immersed in music that had space and sparseness and was less known to him and many listeners, such as Swedish fiddle music and Indian Classical music. However, it was only after listening to Charlie Haden's album of duets, 'Closeness', that the project would come into focus as a duo, and Fitzpatrick immediately knew that the second musician had to be Jordan Smart.
During the unpredictably long lockdown due to the pandemic, Milo Fitzpatrick immersed in music that had space and sparseness and was less known to him and many listeners, such as Swedish fiddle music and Indian Classical music. However, it was only after listening to Charlie Haden's album of duets, 'Closeness', that the project would come into focus as a duo, and Fitzpatrick immediately knew that the second musician had to be Jordan Smart.
"I saw Jordan play at two Gondwana Records events - in Berlin and Tokyo. Both times I was mesmerised by the intensity and conviction of his playing. His commitment to the cause of transcending himself and the listener made a lasting impression on me", says Milo Fitzpatrick about his fellow.
As for the duo 'Vega Trails', Smart also brought an openness and positivity and his ability to play tenor and soprano saxophone with equal command, as well as bass clarinet and Ney flute allowed them to open up the pallet of sound and pull the melodies into varying emotional landscapes - wonderful, at times melancholic, sometimes completely unearthly, but always heartfelt and true stories. So far, we have had the opportunity to take a small peek at the debut album of 'Vega Trails', more specifically, the singles 'Love Your Grace', 'Epic Dream', and 'Spiral Slow'. However, the full record 'Tremors in the Static' is scheduled to be released shortly before their concert in the Concert Hall 'Latvija' (6 May). The album is released by the respectable record label 'Gondwana Records', which also represents the Polish pianist Hania Rani, who gave a concert in Ventspils, and the eagerly awaited trio 'GoGo Penguin'. The concert in Ventspils will be the first public performance of 'Vega Trails' after the album release.
As for the duo 'Vega Trails', Smart also brought an openness and positivity and his ability to play tenor and soprano saxophone with equal command, as well as bass clarinet and Ney flute allowed them to open up the pallet of sound and pull the melodies into varying emotional landscapes - wonderful, at times melancholic, sometimes completely unearthly, but always heartfelt and true stories. So far, we have had the opportunity to take a small peek at the debut album of 'Vega Trails', more specifically, the singles 'Love Your Grace', 'Epic Dream', and 'Spiral Slow'. However, the full record 'Tremors in the Static' is scheduled to be released shortly before their concert in the Concert Hall 'Latvija' (6 May). The album is released by the respectable record label 'Gondwana Records', which also represents the Polish pianist Hania Rani, who gave a concert in Ventspils, and the eagerly awaited trio 'GoGo Penguin'. The concert in Ventspils will be the first public performance of 'Vega Trails' after the album release.
Tickets to the concert by 'Vega Trails' on 15 May in the Small Hall of the Concert Hall 'Ventspils' are available at all sales points of 'Biļešu Paradīze'. The first 30 tickets are available for a special price - EUR 12.00.
'Ma' is a cycle of contemporary music sessions that brings together foreign and Latvian musicians and composers across different genres. So far, concerts have been given by the Czech violinist Iva Bittová, the Australian percussionist Jim White, the Greek lute master George Xylouris, also called the duo 'Xylouris White', the pianist and composer Luke Howard from Australia, the pianist Nik Baertsch, the cellist Clarice Jensen and the master of wind instruments Lea Bertucci from the USA, Daniel Brandt together with the band "Eternal Something" from Germany, the cellist and sound artist Oliver Coates from Great Britain, the New York based percussionist and sound artist Eli Keszler, the German cellist Anne Müller, the Finnish composer Tatu Rönkkö, as well as the director and composer Vladislavs Nastavševs.
'Ma' is a cycle of contemporary music sessions that brings together foreign and Latvian musicians and composers across different genres. So far, concerts have been given by the Czech violinist Iva Bittová, the Australian percussionist Jim White, the Greek lute master George Xylouris, also called the duo 'Xylouris White', the pianist and composer Luke Howard from Australia, the pianist Nik Baertsch, the cellist Clarice Jensen and the master of wind instruments Lea Bertucci from the USA, Daniel Brandt together with the band "Eternal Something" from Germany, the cellist and sound artist Oliver Coates from Great Britain, the New York based percussionist and sound artist Eli Keszler, the German cellist Anne Müller, the Finnish composer Tatu Rönkkö, as well as the director and composer Vladislavs Nastavševs.
Debut album 'Tremors in the Static' by Vega Trails: https://vegatrails.bandcamp.com/
Video of the composition 'Spiral Slow' by Vega Trails: https://youtu.be/fAgaTbGrfxY
Video of the composition 'Spiral Slow' by Vega Trails: https://youtu.be/fAgaTbGrfxY
Concert Hall 'Latvija' online:
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www.koncertzalelatvija.lv
www.instagram.lv/latvijahall
www.facebook.com/latvijahall
www.koncertzalelatvija.lv
www.instagram.lv/latvijahall
