Latvian composer Valts Pūce and Georgian ethno-jazz group The Shin met in Latvia in 2008 at the ninth annual Porta World Music Festival. This initial meeting led to an exciting and emotionally saturated partnership. The concert program and album Es arī is the material result of this collaboration. Even the title, regardless of complete difference in Latvian and Georgian languages is meaningful in both languages: in Latvian “es ari” means “me too”. In Georgian it means “this is it”.
The program was created over the course of three weeks in the summer of 2009 at Valts Pūce’s house on the Baltic coast.
Es Ari is a unity of opposites, a harmony of contrasts, and a wonderful example of how the North can become the South, and vice versa. In the project, seemingly incompatible elements are blended together:
- Baltic composure and directness with the emotional spontaneity of the Caucasus.
- The crystal-clear voices of Latvian women with the lacy designs of Georgian men’s polyphonic singing.
- The medieval baroque with Indian konakol.
- The simple design of Northern rhythms with the poly-rhythms of the South.
In the live concerts, all these elements are seasoned with spirited – measured, cheerfully – pensive, Baltic – Caucasian dance!
The Shin – KGB Song. Es ari program. Premiere in Riga in December 2009
