Musika Bulegoa Sariak 2017: and the winners are…

The Musika Bulegoa Sariak awards recognize quality music created and produced in the Basque region. In the second edition, the jury selected seven out of the 67 candidates

The Musika Bulegoa Sariak awards recognize quality music created and produced in the Basque Country. In the second edition, the jury selected seven out of the 67 candidates: a live recording by composer Ramón Lazkano (Festival d’Automne à Paris-Portrait), the show Zuhainpeko Soinuak, and the most recent CDs by Juan Ortiz (Winter Tales), Elena Setién (Dreaming of Earthly Things) and Ruper Ordorika (Guria Ostatuan),

Etxepare Basque Institute Music Award 2017 will go to Berri Txarrak. This first-time award acknowledges the work in the past three years of a Basque writer, performer – soloist or group – that has spread Basque music beyond our borders. According to the jury, “Berri Txarrak are pioneers in taking Basque music and language to the wider world of high-quality rock. They have excited listeners from every corner, creating outstanding music in Basque, and have showed us and the rest of the world that this is a universal language.”

The association Jazzargia from Vitoria-Gasteiz took home an award for its project “Ondas de jazz en la ciudad”, whose purpose was to shine light on the history of jazz and jazz music´s most highly lauded musicians.

The awards ceremony will take place at Musikene in Donostia on 29 November at 7:00pm. The event will feature live performances by Elena Setién and Ruper Ordorika, among others.

Are you familiar with the work of the award-winning artists?

Festival d’Automne á Paris – Portrait - (Ramón Lazkano)

This piece, which debuted at the Festival d´Automne á Paris 2016, is based on the “Ravel: A Novel” by Jean Echenoz.

You can see the video here.

Zuhainpeko Soinuak

This show, directed by Mireia Gabilondo, revolves around the oral transmission of the music of Soule. Jean Mixel Bedaxagar will share the stage with Juan Mari Beltran to create, along with other musicians, new melodies from more traditional roots.

You can see the video here.

Winter Tales (Juan Ortiz)

In this CD, presented in Bilbao in May, Juan Ortiz combines electronic rhythms with jazz. Ortiz is his own band, choosing rhythms, melodies, bass notes and sounds.

You can see the video here.

Listen to the complete CD here.

Dreaming of Earthly Things (Elena Setién)

In this record, presented at Jazzaldia, San Sebastián’s Jazz festival, Elena Setién bring listeners a fusion of sophisticated pop and jazz.

You can see the video here.

Listen to the complete CD here.

Guria Ostatuan (Ruper Ordorika)

In his latest CD, Ruper Ordorika blends poetry and music to create a classical contemporary feel, using bass, soul keyboard, drums used by Van Morrison, and lyrics by Joseba Sarrionandia, Eva Linazasoro and Gary Snyder.

You can see the video here.

Listen to the complete CD here.

Berri Txarrak

Since the band was formed in 1994, Berri Txarrak have released eight studio recordings, a compilation CD and a documentary. The group has continued to surprise audiences, breaking new ground and playing concerts around the world, including European and South American tours alongside Rise Against, opening acts for the Deftones and Sick Of It All, concert tours in the UK, USA and Asia, and performances at major festivals, such as Hellfest (France), Fuji Rock (Japan), South By Southwest (USA), Canadian Music Fest (Canada), Wilwarin (Germany), Resurrection, Sonorama, Ribera, Viña Roc (Spain), EHZ, Azkena Rock, Festival, Bilbao BBK Live (Basque Country).

Listen to the band’s discography here.