Jazz Finland Live

Kaunotarten kauneimmat
 - Christmas Jazz Concert


4.12. & 11.12.2013



"It's the most wonderful time of the year"goes in one famous Christmas song.

Helena Lindgren and Anastasia Trizna together with the Espoo Jazz Trio (Pekka Sarras, Valery Nikitin and Pekka Sarmanto) are bringing their favorite jazz and Christmas standards to the stage of Alexander theatre.

Both singers have a long experience of performing with different bands and musicians and it's also not the first time they will be seen and heard together: Helena and Anastasia started their collaboration on the Jazz evenings in Pori theatre in year 2011.

Guests of the concert are:
Regina Chevakova (vocals) together with Omppu Oinonen (guitar) and a special guest star Larry Price (saxophone).

So, put on your favorite dress, take your best friends, family and beloved once and come to enjoy Christmas and jazz. Even in the foyer of the theatre you might come across some small surprises... Maybe some life music? Or maybe a chance to make a wish in a bit of a special way? In any case there will be some memories to take back home! As it is indeed "the most wonderful time of the year".

Duration is about 2h 15 min with one intermission.

The doors of the theatre and the restaurant in the foyer open at 6pm.

W 4.12. at 7pm
W 11.12. at 7pm

Tickets 25 / 22 €

Open event

Open event

December's jam session - the stage is open!

Open event

The enchantingly fresh and stylish sextet takes over their audiences with singer Aili Ikonen's nuanced vocals and leader Mikko Pellinen's clever arrangements of traditional vocal jazz classics by the likes of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and George Gershwin. The ambiance sways from romantic ballads to Latin moods and crazy bebop as the band travels through the long and impressive career of the "First Lady Of Song".
This tribute ensemble began performing in 2008 and they have now in 2013 released their debut album for Fredriksson Music. The debut album ”Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella” is the first Finnish album focusing on the music of Ella Fitzgerald.

Ikonen (b. 1982), known from her own band Aili Ikonen Ensemble, Kvalda and Korpi Ensemble, is said to be one of the few true scat-improvisers in Finland. Bassist and band leader Pellinen (b. 1983) leads also his own Mikko Pellinen Mini Big Band. He's a versatile composer, who makes music also for theatre, short films and dance performances.

The Finnish Jazz Federation (FJF) organizes five domestic tours in fall 2013. The tours are supported by the Ministry of Education and The Finnish Music Foundation MES.

Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella is
Aili Ikonen - vocals
Mikko Pellinen - bass, arrangements
Janne Toivonen - trumpet ja fluegelhorn
William Suvanne - saxophones and flute
Tuomas J Turunen - piano
Mikko Arlin – drums
www.tributetoella.com 

Open event

Open event

Conductor: Kari Heinilä

The by now traditional Christmas concert tour of UMO will this year be headlining leading Finnish performing artist Vuokko Hovatta, whose third solo album is scheduled for release in September.

The Christmas tour will span two weeks at the turn of November and December, with concerts at Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki and the Church of St Lawrence in Vantaa, and further afield in Porvoo, Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Kouvola and Kotka.

The repertoire will feature some of the best-known and most beloved Christmas songs by celebrated Finnish poets and composers such as Eino Leino, Viktor Rydberg, Jean Sibelius and Zachris Topelius. Classic numbers will include Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä, A Child is Born and Tonttu. The arrangements are written with church acoustics in mind.

Vuokko Hovatta (b. 1972) is a singer and actress who became known as a member of the band Ultra Bra in the 1990s. She released her first solo album in 2008, and her third is scheduled to be released in September this year. Vuokko Hovatta has appeared in several musicals (including Evita and Wicked), stage plays (including The King’s Speech and Missä kuljimme kerran) and films (including Suden arvoitus). At the moment, she is busy not only with her solo career but also as a member of the Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi with Paula Vesala and Manna.

Open event