Estonian jazzmusicians Voorand and Randalu received prominent music awards
During International Music Day on October 1, the Estonian Music Council and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia gave music awards to 13 distinguished Estonian musicians. The most prominent Estonian music award across all genres was granted to two jazz musicians – pianist Kristjan Randalu and vocalist Kadri Voorand.
Randalu received the prize for his high level concerts in Estonia and abroad, Voorand was acknowledged as a bright and impelling jazz musician.
Versatile pianist and composer Kristjan Randalu is an active and in-demand musician within both jazz and classical music circles. The multiple award-winning musician has given concerts also in Carnegie Hall, Barbican Hall, Music Hall Beirut, and Pollack Hall in Montreal and performed at biggest jazz festivals all over the world. Since 2011, Randalu is a permanent member of Tunisian oud virtuoso Dhafer Youssef's ensemble, and he works as a solo artist as well. He also collaborates closely with Absolute Ensemble, led by Kristjan Järvi.
In recent years Randalu has shared the stage with names like Eivind Aarset, Ari Hoening, Mark Guiliana, Nguyen Le, Dave Liebman, Marilyn Mazur, Nils Petter Molvaer, Ben Monder and Trygve Seim. This spring he performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, before which he collaborated with McGill Chamber Orchestra, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. His performances can be heard on over 30 albums.
The next several months will again be international for Randalu. In October he will give concerts in Germany, which will be followed by a tour with Absolute Ensemble in the gigantic concert halls of South Korea. In November a longer tour will take place in Europe with Dhafer Youssef. The world première of Randlau's new orchestral piece, featuring Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, will take place in April 2015, during the most important contemporary music event in Estonia, the Estonian Music Days.
Singer Kadri Voorand has risen as a shining star among Estonian jazz vocalists, enchanted international audiences and gained the attention of international music media. She is active as a singer, composer, arranger and a vocal teacher. She has also mastered writing lyrics and feels equally at home in jazz and contemporary music as well as folk music.
Voorand is regarded highly as an excellent improviser, she leads several groups, the most well-known of which are Kadri Voorand Trio and vocal sextet Estonian Voices. Voorand's voice has been heard in the concert broadcast programme of the European Broadcasting Union all over Europe and numerous concert trips have taken her to Europe as well as across the sea to Canada and the USA. The singer has been presented with many music awards both as a composer-arranger and as a vocalist.
The singer's unique voice can be heard on 13 albums. Voorand herself has released three albums with different groups. An addition can be expected in November, when Estonian Voices will release their first album, created in cooperation with technical team of Swedish The Real Group.
Voorand has also begun collaborating with the Estonian National Male Choir, and a new programme will be created with Voorand in charge of arrangements. She will travel to Italy in 2015 to begin work on a new album.
Both Randalu and Voorand are frequent guests at both Jazzkaar festival and at concert series hosted by the Estonian Jazz Union.
See More:
Kristjan Randalu www.randalu.com
Kadri Voorand www.kadrivoorand.com
