Jazz Finland Live
JAZZ HUG -TOUR: AR Quartet,Malmisali, Malmitalo, helsinki11.9. At 19:00
AR Quartet (formerly known as Artturi Rönkä Quartet) is a band of four young musicians from Helsinki, Finland. The group’s music is characterized by dynamic and energetic interplay and refined compositions, mostly written by Artturi Rönkä. In May 2012, the band won the first prize in the Finnish final of “Young Nordic Jazz Comets” competition and represented Finland in the international showcase in Copenhagen, Denmark. In September 2012, AR Quartet won the second prize in international “Jazz Hoeilaart” competition for jazz groups in Belgium. Jazz HUG record label released the band’s debut album in March 2014.
The 23-year-old pianist-composer Artturi Rönkä is Pori Jazz’s Artist of the Year in 2013 and had the honour of being the first Rising Star of We Jazz Festival 2013. Rönkä has also been successful in composing competitions. Highlights so far include the first prizes in both Finnish “Esko Linnavalli” (2011, organized by UMO Jazz Orchestra) and international “Jazzverk” (2012 Luleå, Sweden, organized by Norrbotten Big Band) big band composition contests.
The first two weeks, 3 - 13, of September AR Quartet will be touring around Finland for eight concerts. This tour, produced together with Jazz HUG and Finnish Jazz Federation, will take the young jazz lions to perform around Finland, e.g. in Kuopio, Tampere and Turku.
Sampo Kasurinen – soprano & tenor saxophones
Eero Seppä – bass
Artturi Rönkä – piano
Jonatan Sarikoski – drums
Wed 3.9. Tampere, AMC-klubi, Telakka
Thu 4.9. Kajaani, Koutasali, Kaukametsän kulttuurikeskus
Fri 5.9. Kuopio, Jazzklubi, Musiikkikeskus
Sat 6.9. Tallinna, Philly Joe's Jazz Club
Wed 10.9. Turku, Sibelius-museo
Thu 11.9. Helsinki, Malmisali, Malmitalo
Fri 12.9. Savonlinna, Wanha Kasino
Sat 13.9. Oulu, Pikisali, Kaupunginteatteri
Gigs on the same day in helsinki
Lenny Pickett & UMO: The Prescription -albumin julkaisukonserttiSavoy-teatteri, helsinki11.9. At 19:00
Savoy Theatre autumn season opening will be celebrated in the beginning of September with two album release concerts of The Prescription, the new superb collaboration of Lenny Pickett and UMO Jazz Orchestra.
Lenny Pickett is the renowned tenor saxophonist and E-flat clarinetist who was a seminal horn-section member of the pop/funk band Tower of Power from 1972-1981, and has been a member of the Saturday Night Live band since 1985 and its musical director since 1995. Pickett is also known as a longtime session musician and arranger who has worked with a wide range of artists from David Bowie and Elton John to David Byrne and Katy Perry. Pickett’s singular instrumental voice is unmistakable.
The concert covers The Prescription, a 10-song collection of Pickett rowdy-to-waltzing originals, for example a robust rendition of the TOP hit What Is Hip, and the arranger and former artistic director of UMO Jazz Orchestra Rich Shemaria’s whimsical tune A Sad State of Affairs.
“This is a unique project that has artsy elements as well slow blues, uptempo swing, funk and eclectic music in the mix – it’s hard to categorize what this album is,” Pickett says.
Conductor Rich Shemaria.
Tickets available at Lippupalvelu from 36,50 € / 32,50 € (normal 34 €, pensioners, unemployed, students and children 32,50 € + service fee from 2,50 €). Show & Dinner -ticket at Restaurant Presto 77,50 € / 73,50€ (normal 74 €, pensioners, unemployed, students and children 70 € + service fee from. 3,50 €).
