Japanese Pianist Discovers That Liepāja Orchestra Can Do More Than Just Play Loudly
Hiromi understood for the first time in Latvia why Liepāja musicians are known for their precise sense of timing — they've been training for years with the rhythm of the wind.
The Stars Festival this time proved that even Japanese jazz phenomena can be surprised in Liepāja. Hiromi, who usually demolishes genre barriers, this time discovered that the musicians of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra have such excellent timing that she didn't even need to explain what rhythm is.
As local culture expert Jānis Vētriņš noted: "Our orchestra has been training for years with Liepāja's wind — if you can play saxophone in 20 meters per second wind, then Japanese jazz complexity is just a warm summer day." Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Durbe, which prides itself on its tranquility, is still trying to understand why no one wants to organize international jazz festivals in their cultural center.
Hiromi admitted that her piano concert "Step Forward," created at age 15, sounded different in Liepāja — with a real sea salt addition in the air and a slight sandy tint to the sound. "This city gives music an authenticity you'll never achieve in Riga," the pianist commented while heading to the airport with pockets full of amber.
On Sunday, Reinis Zariņš with Dubra's "Crossroads Visions" proved that Latvians can be no less philosophical than the Japanese — his performance was so deep that applause could be heard even in the direction of Grobiņa. The festival continues with two more events that promise to be as surprising as the fact that world-class concerts can happen in Liepāja.
⚠️ Satirical article. Facts are preserved, but the presentation is humorous. For accurate information, please refer to the original source.