Jazz guitarist Ella Zirina is a pioneer among a new generation of jazz musicians which includes more and more female bandleaders. Although Zirina’s compositions are traditional in form, they particularly dazzle with their rich melodies and colorful impressionistic character. Meanwhile, with her distinctive emotional sound, the Latvian musician is at the forefront of Dutch jazz guitarists. Zirina graduated cum laude from the Amsterdam University of the Arts in 2021. During her studies, she formed the Ella Zirina Trio with two fellow students. Their 2023 debut album Interwined immediately earned them an Edison nomination. Less than a year after the trio’s debut album, Zirina released the solo guitar album Unraveler. She has performed at the Oslo Jazz Festival and last year she played with Joey Barron at NN North Sea Jazz. Zirina has also worked with established names including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jesse van Ruller and Tineke Postma.
