Toms Rudzinskis

Toms Rudzinskis is one of Baltic's leading 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, 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, Toms has won has the “Keep an Eye” Jazz award with the quartet “North by Northeast”, Best Soloist at the international big band competition “Meer Jazz”, selected as the Jazz ambassador of the internationally recognised venue Bimhuis. Won the prestigious “Burghausen Jazz competition” Grand Prix with “Matiss Cudars quartet” in 2012, which led to an opportunity to share the stage with internationally renowned Cassandra Wilson. Won the “Dutch Jazz Competition” Grand Prix with Loran Witteveen quintet which led to a tour in 2016 covering the biggest venues in The Netherlands.

In 2014 Toms released debut album "ABRA" and received two Latvian Grammy Award “Zelta Mikrofons” nominations – “The Best Jazz Album” and “The Best Debut” gaining wider recognition and following in his homeland. Another “The Best Jazz album” nomination followed with the next album in 2017 – the first vinyl recording “Locomotion!” in independent Latvia, a fully analogue recording with the award-winning Austrian trumpet player Gerhard Ornig.

Toms is currently working on a new album with quintet “ABYSS” to be released in 2020, collaborative "Space Big Band" project, travelling and collaborating with jazz musicians developing his Jazz Community & Education platform #TRJXP.

www.tomsrudzinskis.com