Toms Rudzinskis is one of Baltics’ leading Jazz saxophone players and composers with an innovative and unique sound in his performance and compositions. Leading his own band or performing as a well-respected soloist and sideman, he currently resides in Berlin and travels across Europe to perform, collaborate and educate.
Masters graduate of prestigious Conservatorium van Amsterdam, numerous jazz and classical music awards winner, in 2014 Toms released debut album “ABRA” receiving Latvian ‘Grammy’ Award “Zelta Mikrofons” nominations for “Best Jazz album” and “Best Debut”. Another “Best Jazz album” nomination followed in 2017 for analogue vinyl recording “Locomotion!” with the award-winning Austrian trumpet player Gerhard Ornig.
Rudzinskis’ bigband project with award-winning Danish bass player and composer Kenneth Dahl Knudsen “Space Big Band” was released on Double Moon/Challenge Records International on October 2021 to both Latvian Music Awards and Danish Jazz Music Awards recognition, featured on Europe Jazz Media Chart and included on Lufthansa Group Airlines and Qatar Airways In-flight Entertainment, premiered in Berlin, Denmark, and Latvia. Toms is currently working on his and NY-based Latvian singer’s Arta Jekabsone poetry/jazz bigband music CD “Impressions of an Era”.
In late 2023, Rudzinskis released his long awaited jazz/fusion crowdfunded album “ABYSS” to critical acclaim, supported by a tour in the Baltics, featured on the Europe Jazz Media Chart, and named as Latvian Radio TOP3 solo musician of 2023. On March 8th, ABYSS received the Latvian ‘Grammy’ for Best Jazz Album and was nominated for the Album of the Year.
Toms Rudzinskis Quartet second album “Interception” with “Jersika Records” was released exclusively on Bandcamp on October 27 with vinyl and streaming release set for early 2025. First single “Roundabout” premiered with a retrospective music video introducing a 7-tour date Autumn 2024 tour in the Baltics. On January 18 2025 “Interception” received the Annual Latvian Music Records Award for Best Jazz Album of 2024 and was nominated for the Album of the Year.
Besides travelling and collaborating with jazz musicians across Europe, Toms holds a Jazz Jam Residency at Riga’s jazz hotspot “M/Darbnīca”, teaches at the Music Academy of Latvia and Ventspils Musical High School, and online through his Jazz Community & Education project #SHEDNSHARE. → Read more…
