Jazz Finland Live

Oregon

The American band Oregon, which was established in 1970, is regarded as one of the most significant pioneers of acoustic fusion jazz and world music. It has been over two decades since their last visit to Finland. The current roster includes three of the multi-instrumentalists that formed the group – Ralph Towner, Paul McCandless and Glen Moore – as well as drummer and percussionist Mark Walker, who joined the lineup 15 years ago. The critical praise showered upon Oregon’s latest album Family Tree (2012) demonstrates that the band provides an exceptionally exhilarating experience you wish would never end.

Jukka Perko & Iiro Rantala

The concert is opened by one of the most noteworthy new Finnish jazz pair-ups in quite some time. The new duo brings together the staggering talents of two internationally acclaimed jazz stars: saxophonist Jukka Perko and pianist Iiro Rantala. The distinguished pair’s new album It Takes Two to Tango, to be released in April, will present a collection of music that explores the fundamental nature of jazz, postulating that 1+1 equals at least 3. The name of the album is not merely a homage to the reciprocal interaction between two musicians but also the dialogue between the musician and jazz itself. Among other tunes, the upcoming album features interpretations of the songs ‘Stella by Starlight’ and ‘Siks oon mä suruinen’, which demonstrate that Perko and Rantala are capable of transforming any composition into a fresh and completely unique interpretation that gives the music room the breathe.

Soweto Kinch

Alto saxophonist and rapper MC Soweto Kinch is one of the most interesting and diverse young jazz and hip hop artists to emerge from Britain in recent years. After four released albums, Kinch is deservedly revered as a master of combining these two different musical styles. The rap lyrics of Kinch, an Oxford graduate in history, are an exhilarating blend of erudite references and slang learnt on the streets of Birmingham. As a saxophonist, Kinch has demonstrated an equal measure of exceptional talent by creating a musical concoction rife with influences from the swing era, bebop and post-bop, as well as echoes of other musical styles important to him, such as reggae and Jamaican folk music.

Elektro GT

The evening is kicked off by Elektro GT led by drummer Mikko Hassinen. The band released their debut album in the autumn of 2014. The jazz rock fusion with heavy electronic elements will give puritan views a healthy shakeup and offer a powerful musical experience that hits like a million volts. In Hassinen’s elite team of musicians (Timo Kämäräinen on guitar, Lauri Porra on bass and Aki Rissanen on keyboards) each member is a virtuoso of their respective instruments, and their track records feature a diverse variety of genres and styles. This time there will be a guest appearance by one of Finland’s most prominent jazz trumpeters Verneri Pohjola.

Open event