Intars Busulis Lush Life Quintet Vol. 2 – Pink Noise Riga

Following a completely sold-out spring concert and a standing ovation from the audience, Pink Noise Riga announces the return of Intars Busulis and the Lush Life Quintet. The quintet's second premiere – Vol. 2 – will take place at Daile Music House on 28 November.

During the festival's spring session, the masterful musical dialogue between Intars Busulis and saxophonist Gints Pabērzs became one of its most emotional highlights. Joined by pianist Matīss Žilinskis, double bassist Toms Poišs and drummer Rūdolfs Dankfelds, the quintet will once again revisit and reinterpret gems from the jazz canon – and beyond – with an aristocratic flair.

The first concert featured compositions including Corcovado, Lush Life, Atvadas vasarai, Dedicated to You, Nature Boy, Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years, Blue Trane, I'm A Fool to Want You, Kāpēc, Liquid Spirit and Hallelujah I Love Her So, as well as Matīss Žilinskis' Sulīgā dzīve, written especially for the quintet as an ironic nod to Billy Strayhorn's legendary composition and the ensemble's name.

Which of these pieces will remain in the programme for Vol. 2 – and what new gems will be added – the organisers are keeping under wraps for now. One thing is certain: the audience can expect plenty of musical surprises.

The project draws inspiration from one of the great recordings pairing male vocals with tenor saxophone – the legendary 1963 album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, released by Impulse! Records.

About Pink Noise Riga

Pink Noise Riga is a music festival in Latvia's capital that made its debut in autumn 2024 with Branford Marsalis and the Latvian Radio Big Band. The festival presents a world-class mix of jazz, pop-rock, fusion and contemporary improvised music and was created by Aigars Nords – founder of the popular city events Rimi Riga Marathon and Riga Wine & Champagne – together with his event-hardened Nords Event Communications team and Dāvis Jurka, director and saxophonist of the Latvian Radio Big Band.

The festival's central idea is to fill Riga with music and style, helping the Latvian capital and its musical charm shine brighter on Europe's music tourism map.

Festival highlights to date include Branford Marsalis with the Latvian Radio Big Band, Kamasi Washington and his band, Kārlis Auziņš Double Trio, Instrumenti, Lupa, British saxophone sensation Nubya Garcia, Three Voices featuring Latvia's rising vocal stars, and Intars Busulis with the Lush Life Quintet, created especially for the festival.

The festival's 2026 season will culminate on 29 November with the Latvian debut of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and legendary Wynton Marsalis at Dailes Theatre.

In 2026, the festival is co-funded by the State Culture Capital Foundation and Riga City Council.