“When I listen to Britta's playing, I hear an artist with an incredibly sensitive soul who can communicate through touch and the sound of the piano. Her trio perfectly complements this sensitivity, creating an incredibly dynamic and satisfying musical experience” - Kurt Rosenwinkel.

A unique pianist, a young star of the Swedish jazz scene, will perform with her trio at Jazzment in Szczecin as part of our festival.

Growing up on the island of Saaremaa in her native Estonia, Britta Virves (born 1991) was a diligent piano student, playing only classical repertoire. A chance encounter introduced her to the world of jazz: “I wanted to learn to play the guitar. So I went to my teacher, Tiit Paulus, and he told me to stick with the piano and introduced me to the music of Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder. It blew me away – a whole new world opened up to me.” Britta fully devoted herself to music, and her talent quickly began to attract attention. She moved to Sweden to continue her studies, and soon after, she was already performing across Europe with the esteemed Norrbotten Big Band under the direction of Joakim Milder. There, she closely collaborated with guest vocalist Genevieve Artadi, whom she also accompanied during a duet on the tour opening for Louis Cole.

Now, with her debut album for Whirlwind titled Simple Things, she presents another chapter in this story. Together with her regular trio partners – Jon Henriksson on bass and Jonas Bäckman on drums – and thanks to the captivating guest appearance of Artadi, she has created a collection of sparkling, original compositions. This music is both accessible and open, yet deeply personal. Drawing from her ongoing search for her unique sound, Britta filters her love for rhythm and groove through a Nordic sensitivity, creating an enticing and approachable blend of excitement and introspection.

Each composition on the album draws inspiration from some aspect of Britta's life. The title track, “Simple Things,” combines the directness of a pop song with the depth of jazz, where Genevieve Artadi's ethereal vocals float above a pulsating, expressive rhythm section that supports clear, deep harmonies. Two pieces are dedicated to Britta's family – the cascading triplets in “Days of Lily” for her mother Liilia, and the reflective ballad “Mirrors” for her sister Greta. “Forever” is a musical tribute to two of the artist's idols, inspired by the groove she heard from Gregory Hutchinson playing with Kurt Rosenwinkel.

Meanwhile, the gently yet firmly pulsating “Road to Braemar” emerged after the trio's trip to Scotland; driven by Bäckman's subtle yet consistent drumming, it evokes open spaces and the healing influence of being in nature. “Jon and Jonas have an incredible sense of dynamics – they are like the ocean, knowing perfectly when to let go and when to hit with full force.” The piece “Bravery,” showcasing the subtlety and dynamic control of the rhythm section, is one of Britta's favorite compositions on this album: “I feel it’s like a great waterfall rushing down, carving its path simply through natural flow.” In contrast, “Chances” plays with precisely placed accents that the trio musicians seamlessly pass between each other. Finally, the pieces “Stepping Out” and “Days Of Lily” reconnect Britta with her mentor Joakim Milder, who is the author of an engaging string arrangement performed by Daniel Migdal, providing a backdrop for the pianist's dancing melody.

Simple Things unites an open, simple expression that speaks directly to the listener and finds perfect reflection in the trio's natural, empathetic virtuosity.

“The title Simple Things expresses my admiration for seemingly easy and obvious actions that contain immense complexity. It’s like looking through a microscope – when you try to zoom in, completely new things open up before you. I feel that I am still searching for the direction in which my music wants to go, but this album definitely brings me closer to the sound I am looking for.”

The Jazz Generator Festival takes place with the support of the Marshal's Office of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the City of Szczecin.

Ticket 70 PLN 

Reservation Tel.: 604600016

https://jazzmentklub.tixx.pl/