Jazz Finland Live

16th annual, Nordic jazz bands' showcase Young Nordic Jazz Comets takes place at Tampere Jazz Happening festival in October. But who will represent Finland there? Come to Helsinki's Lavaklubi on May 9 and find out! Four up-and-coming bands, last year's winner Elena & The Rom Ensemble... and all that jazz free of charge! 

Each group will play a short set, which will be reviewed by a jury of professionals, but the audience also gets to vote for their favourite group. The night will culminate in a set by Elena & The Rom Ensemble, last year’s winner.

This year’s candidates for the YNJC final are as follows:

Miika Hyttinen Band
Miika Hyttinen - trombone, composition
Tomi Nikku - trumpet
Eetu Palomäki - piano
Mikael Saastamoinen - bass
Erik Heikkinen - drums

Jazz Fresh
Marek Konarski - saxophone
Arto Ikävalko - piano
Joonas Tuuri - bass
Ville Luukkonen - drums

Katu Kaiku
Mikael Saastamoinen - double bass
Erik Heikkinen - drums
Adele Sauros - saxophones

Filunki & Big Samuli King
Max Zenger - saxophones
Samuli Kivelä - guitar
Teemu Åkerblom - bass
Aleksi Kinnunen - drums

In the semi-final, each group is given a slot of 15 minutes, after which their performances will be evaluated. In addition to musical merit and performing skills, the group’s potential for an international career will be assessed. The winner will represent Finland in the Young Nordic Jazz Comets final, receiving also a monetary prize and a slot at the Jazz-Espa Festival on Saturday 1 August 2015 and at next year’s YNJC semi-final event. Instruction concerning international matters will also be organised to support the group to further their career. The second-best group and the audience’s favourite will be rewarded with a monetary price.

The sixteenth Young Nordic Jazz Comets showcase will take place on 29 October 2015 at Klubi, at the Tampere Jazz Happening. All Nordic countries will be represented in this event.

Young Nordic Jazz Comets 2015
9 May 2015 at 7:00PM at Lavaklubi, Helsinki (Läntinen teatterikuja 2)
Free entry!

Miika Hyttinen Band
Jazz Fresh
Katu Kaiku
Filunki & Big Samuli King
YNJC 2014: Elena & The Rom Ensemble

Read more about YNJC: www.youngnordicjazzcomets.com

Photo: Elena Mindru by Maarit Kytöharju

Open event

Lenin was a mushroom (FIN/DK/GER) is a new Helsinki-based quintet, led by sax player Johannes Sarjasto. The concert is a part of the club series Helsinki Heat, taking place at Point Bar.

Johannes Sarjasto - sax
Panu Luukkonen - trombone
Kalle Timonen - keys
Lukas Growe (GER) - bass
Daniel Sommer (DK) - drums

Tickets available at the door 5/10€

Open event

There is no barrier between jazz and contemporary music, but a gap, an open space, which activates the imagination and enables spontaneous creation. This applies to the composer and the performing musician alike. When the musician improvises, on his own or as part of an ensemble, he follows the map, the structure created by the composer, making decisions in a fraction of a second – what to play and when, whether to lead or accompany, to play or not to play that particular note at that particular moment – whilst keeping in mind the piece as a whole and responding to the moves of the collective, an organic entity that he is a part of.

The group released their debut album Outer Space (SatnaMusic) in November 2014.

“Their sound was extremely pleasant to the ear live – the context of improvised music did particular justice to Nikula’s bass clarinet.”
- Pasi Virtanen in his blog, “Jazzpossu”

http://www.sidhille.com
Watch a video: http://vimeo.com/114654969

Tour Dates:

5.5. Akustiikka, Ylivieska, at 7.00pm
6.5. Validi Karkia -klubi, Porin kaupunginkirjasto, Pori, at 7.00pm
7.5. Pitskun kulttuurikirkko, Helsinki, at 7.00pm
8.5. Flame Jazz, Åbo Svenska Teater, Café Tiljan, Turku, at 9.00pm
9.5. Teater No99, Tallinna, at 9.30pm
12.5. Musiikkilukion konserttisali, Kaustinen, at 3.00pm
12.5. Konservatorion sali, Kokkola, at 7.30pm
13.5. Nurmes-talo, Nurmes, at 7.00pm
14.5. Konservatorion sali, Joensuu, at 7.00pm
15.5. Musiikkikeskus, Jazzklubi, Kuopio, at 9.30pm
16.5. Pikkuteatteri, Lahti, at 7.00pm

Open event