Jazz Finland Live

The 17-piece Sointi Jazz Orchestra, led by compoer-arranger Rasmus Soini, plays jazz infused with some influenced of classical music. The group was formed in 2013.

Soini and the Sointi Jazz Orchestra drummer Siiri Partanen have arranged and partly recreated the Christmas-time favourite Star boys' singing process. “I have never been a huge fan of the traditional Star boys' singing procession, which might be why I wanted to do something new with it”, Soini says.

Stylistically, Soini’s draws from many sources: influences from classical music are fused with the Afro-American music tradition and spiced up with some echoes from Finnish folk music. Sometimes almost approaching cinematic soundscapes, his arrangements and compositions have been played previously by Savonlinna Big Band, Tapiola Youth Symphony Orchestra and Metropolia Big Band. We will surely be in for a fresh take on the traditional Christmas pageant.

Open event

Come enjoy a Jazzier Christmas with JBB, Jussi Lampela, Yona and Emma Salokoski!

The programme is composed of a selection of well- and less-known, solemn and cheery holiday songs in new jazzy arrangements, penned by the composer-arranger-conductor Jussi Lampela especially for the occasion. The impetus for these big band versions has derived from versions that Lampela recently wrote for his own 9-piece.

The Emma-awarded Emma Salokoski is a versatile singer who has released three albums with her own group, Emma Salokoski Ensemble. She is sought-after as a guest among other artists, having appeared on recordings and at gigs of a variety of genres. She was selected as the Female Vocalist of the Year at the Emma Gala of 2006.

Yona is, likewise, a winner of the Emma Prize; the year was 2010 and the category the Newcomer of the Year. She leads her own band, Liikkuvat Pilvet, and has released four albums by now. She collaborates with several Finnish artists and is at home in genres through jazz to reggae. Last year, Yona came second in the Seinäjoen tangomarkkinat tango singing competition.

Jussi Lampela is an acclaimed and versatile composer and arranger. His nonet was first introduced to the general audience through the release of the album Lampela X Eskola, released on Ricky-Tick Records in 2010. Trumpeter Jukka Eskola appears as a soloist on the recording. In addition to Eskola, Lampela’s long-term partners in music include Vantaan Viihdeorkesteri, UMO Jazz Orchestra, Teppo Mäkynen and Pessi Levanto.

Jyväskylä Big Band’s season 2014-2015 is full of celebration. In addition to the Father’s Day and Christmas concerts of the autumn season, the orchestra will give two collaborative concerts with Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra and celebrate Finnish women composers on Women’s Day in the spring season 2015.

Jyväskylä Big Band is famous for promoting and interpreting new Finnish music. This group strides confidently on the terrains of big band music and world music without forgetting salsa, soul and related genres, gigs actively in Finland and abroad and teaches musicians-to-be. During its 30-year existence the group has raised a number of musicians to stardom. Conductor Ilkka Mäkitalo has led the big band since 1995.

Tickets: 25 / 18€ at the Jyväskylä Theatre box office, tel. 014 2660110. At Lippupiste (lippu.fi) starting from 20,50€ (including service fees).

www.facebook.com/JyvaskylaBigBand
www.jyvaskylabigband.com
http://www.yona.fi/
http://emmasalokoski.fi/
http://www.jussilampela.com/

Open event