El Cariño – Latino version of the song Nezhnost.(Russian spelling: Нежность, English translation: Tenderness).
The song was composed in 1965. The music was written by Aleksandra Pakhmutova, with lyrics by Nikolay Dobronravov and Sergey Grebennikov.
Nezhnost’ was performed in 1967 by Tatiana Doronina (as Nyura) in Tatiana Lioznova’s film Tri topolya na Plyushchikhe (Three Poplars at Plyuschikha Street). Originally it was recorded by Maya Kristalinskaya in 1966 and was covered many times by many artists in Soviet Union and Russia, including versions made by Yuri Gulyayev, Joseph Kobzon, Tamara Sinyavskaya, Lyudmila Zykina, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Maria Codrianu, Latvian singer Olga Pīrāgs. Also, the song was recorded in 1967 by French singer Frida Boccara in Russian (Soviet album «Поёт Фрида Боккара» / Frida Boccara sings, Melodiya), in 1969 by Cuban singer Lourdes Gil and Francis Goya (as Tenderness — CD album A Tribute To Alexandra Pakhmutova, 2002). The song has been live performed in 1999 by Alla Bayanova in French, accompanied by Mikhail Pletnev.
Several Western arrangements of the tune are known under the title Tenderness. In particular, Marc Almond’s version is known for his live performance at the Manege of the First Cadet Corps (Saint Petersburg) on October 1, 2008 [2] and Thomas Anders’ version is known for his live performance at the Kremlin Palace on April 23, 2009.
In 2014 we are glad to announce brand new spanish – rumba flamenco version of the song “Nezhnost” written by Aleksandra Pakhmutova,with lyrics by Valentin Kalugin.

Photo: Cristine Næsvold Kveinsjø”

In november, Latvian and Norwegian have in common a “very” short daylight. Hence … they both dream to travel as soon as possible to some exotic sunny spots.
When it comes to jazz, the brazilian notes are naturally the ones nordic and baltic musicians prefer to get warmed with.
Thus, the vocalist, Diana Pirags is by education a jazz interpret, and by heart a lover of the latin jazz melodies and tempo. Stunning are her scat, improvisation, and octave amplitude.
Two years ago, when travelling to Riga, the Norwegian pianist, Thor Helge Moe discovered the Diana Pirags. Listening to her rumba flamenco version of “Girl of Ipanema”, he immediately wanted her to display her vast repertoire and skills to the Norwegian audience.
Their friendship, love for music, and respective professionalism made that dream come true.

That’s the way, this saturday, 16th of november 2014, 6PM, took place in the library of Rorvik the utmost dense, skillful, and … inconceivable concert .
The majestic Diana Pirags revealed for the first time to Norway, her capacity to sing a large jazz repertoire. Witty, her duet “The Lady is a tramp” with the singer Jorid Ramfjord ; emotionnal her “Stars Fell On Alabama”, with the saxophonist Toralf Devik, melodious “Autumn Leaves” in french and english, with the impecaple intro of Thor Helge ; and impressively touching with “Insensitive”, sang in portuguese and english.
“But how have you been able to bring her here ?” , “that was the best concert of the county, ever”, are the two sentences that the 6000 islands, islets and skerries of Vikna keep on saying to Thor Helge Moe. Educated, captivated, the audience was as reactive, as attentive to such brio.

Diana’s voice, TradJazz passion, and the audience fascination were that evening far too large for the walls of the library hall.

All promised each other new further concerts and collaboration, in Rorvik, Riga, Trondheim… and beyond.
Let’s be patient, and hope that those jazz lovers will soon enlight our evenings, cheer up our winters, and the three other months of the year … with their so proficient generosity.
F.Cesto

Ladies & Gentleman!
You are welcome!

Welcome to concert in Jurmala City on 26.July

RIGAS RITMI FESTIVAL 2 – 5 JULY 2014

 

Smooth Band ft Diana Pirags 

03   JUL

Daugava Concert Hall

line up: Viktors Ritovs - keyboard, Oļegs Grišins - bass, Artis Orubs - drums
Artūrs Kutepovs - guitar,Diāna Pirāgs - vocal

Smooth Band unites well-known musicians in Latvia. Vocalist Diana Pirags performs jazz standards and compositions in Latin jazz rhythms; she freely sings in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Latvian and Russian languages.

Genre/Style:

jazz, bossa nova, smooth jazz