A concert scheduled the evening of Feb. 25 in Rīga reminded me of a recently released album, Borsh, which is a collaboration between the folk-rock band Dzelzs vilks and the “modern traditional” Jewish group Forshpil.

Dzelzs vilks dates from the year of Latvia’s renewed independence, 1991. It started as a metal band, but then migrated to alternative and finally folk rock. Fronted by Juris Kaukulis, Dzelzs vilks has kept busy with concerts and recording albums. The band’s 10th album, Dzelzs Vilka Teātris was released last year.

Forshpil has been around just since 2003 and performs either as a duo or as a four-piece band. The group presents, in Yiddish, the music of the Ashkenazi Jews, but with a modern twist, combining such elements as klezmer and jazz.

Released in November on the Pasaules mūzika label, Borsh includes nine tracks that make for an interesting mix of sounds, including the vocals of Forshpil singer Aleksandra Lurje.

Besides Kaukulis, who performs vocals, the mandolin and the guitar, Dzelzs vilks on Borsh includes Kaspars Tobis on keyboards, Mārcis Judzis on percussion,  and Valērijs Cīrulis on vocals and bass. And besides Lurje, Forshpil has Iļja Šneiveiss on accordeon and reed pipe, Inna Raihmane on violin and Artjoms Vesna on percussion.

For a taste of the bands’ collaboration, watch the YouTube video of them performing “Dieviņš brauca.”

A real-life unsolved murder in a northeastern Latvian town is the inspiration for a new mystery novel by Ottawa-based writer Ilze Berzins. The book, Aluksne, is due to be published March 22, Berzins told Latvians Online in an e-mail.

The story, she said, spans three generations beginning around World War I and continuing to the 1990s. It involves a man named Ernests Eglītis who assumes ownership of the most prominent house on a street in Alūksne. The historic house once belonged to a noted tile stove setter and potter.

“As work commences in the former pottery, which is still outfitted with ancient kilns, disturbing evidence of foul play is discovered,” Berzins said. “Before long Eglītis is entangled in murders and intrigues which span generations.”

Aluksne will be the author’s ninth mystery novel. Her first, Death in the Glebe, was published in 1999. That book followed her 1997 autobiographical story Happy Girl, which was about her attempt to repatriate to Latvia. Berzins also recently published a book about her late mother, Portrait of a Latvian Beauty.

The 327-page book will be published by Albert Street Press. The cost is CAD 30 plus CAD 5 for postage for Canadian customers, or USD 30 plus USD 5 for postage for U.S. customers. The book may be ordered through Berzins’ Web site, www.ilzeberzins.com

Berzins also recently unveiled a redesign of her Web site. It now includes a blog focusing on the time she spent in the 1960s as an art student in Paris.

The relatively new pop music group Instrumenti, purported to consist of two members of the a capella ensemble Cosmos, has won the best song title in the annual Latvian Music Recordings of the Year Awards (Latvijas Mūzikas ierakstu Gada balva).

Instrumenti won for the song “Apēst tevi.” The awards were announced in a ceremony Feb. 23 in Rīga, according to the news service LETA.

Instrumenti is reported to consist of singers Reinis Sējāns and Jānis Šipkēvics of Cosmos. The group was formed last year and in January released an EP album, Pandemiya, which was honored with the best debut award. The band also has been invited to perform in March during the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Other award winners included:

• Best rock album: Vadu by Satellites LV.
• Best pop album: Nakts vai rīts by Otra puse.
• Best hip hop album: Gatis Irbe by Gacho.
• Best dance music album: Doubl B Tonality by N’works.
• Best alternative music album: Recipe of the Golden Dream by Tribes of the City. Ironically, the band announced in September that it was going on an indefinite hiatus.
• Best schlager album: Mēs to sen jau bijām pelnījuši, featuring music by Raimonds Pauls and lyrics by Guntis Račs recorded by a number of popular singers.
• Best country album: Viss vēl būs by Dakota.
• Best folk music album: Es arī by Valts Pūce and The Shin.
• Best academic music album: Skaņu labirints by mezzosoprano Ieva Parša.
• Best instrumental, film or theater music album: Vēstules Ziemassvētkos by Raimonds Tiguls, Rihards Zaļupe, Oskars Petrauskis and Raimonds Petrauskis.
• Best children’s album: Pasaki man un tev by Cosmos.
• Best radio hit: “Nakts vai rīts” by Otra puse.
• Best video: “Pirmais” by Satellites LV.
• Best concert video: Graphis Scripta by Dabas koncertzāle.

Ivars Mazurs received the lifetime achievement award. Mazurs is a jazz musician, pianist, arranger, orchestra director and radio personality. He began playing jazz just after World War II. Since 1958, he has worked with Latvian State Radio, according to jazzmusic.lv.

A listeners’ choice vote organized by the Alfa retail center chose singer Aisha’s cover version of the Aino Bāliņa song “Lelle” as the best song of 2009.

The music awards have been presented since 1994. A full list of nominees and other information about the awards are available by visiting www.gadabalva.lv.