Jazz Finland Live

Juhlat (Fete) is a new kind of performance concept, a composite of drama and jazz concert, exploring the themes of money, family and art.

You are invited to witness the birthday celebrations of the 60-year-old Matti Holma, Finland’s most industrous entrepreneur in heavy equipment. There will be juicy anecdotes, speeches given by friends and relatives and as the acme of the party, a big band concert by Sointi Jazz Orchestra. The party turns into a domestic row, however, when the younger generation calls their father’s capitalist values into question. Without money there would be no concert but is art to be reduced to exclusive entertainment for those with capital? To whom does high art belong in today’s world?

A great success last summer at Mustikkamaa Open Air Theatre, the show returns to the stage this January at Malmitalo on 22 Jan at 19:00 and 23 Jan at 17:00.

Duration approximately 2 hrs

Ticket prices: 15 € adults / 8 € (discount tickets)

Directed by Sirpa Riuttala
Sointi Jazz Orchestra conducted by Rasmus Soini
Script by Veera Tapper

On stage: Heikki Herva, Henna Holländer, Inkeri Hyvönen, Karlo Haapiainen, Marius Laiho, Kiia Laine, Tiina Mäki, Vili Orava ja Aliisa Rinne

SOINTI JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Rasmus Soini (conduction, compositions)
Petteri Hietamäki (alto sax, soprano sax, flute)
Pekka Seppänen (alto sax clarinet)
Frans Thomsson (tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet)
Janne Saarinen (tenor sax, oboe)
Sampo Kasurinen (baritone sax, bass clarinet)
Mikko Koponen (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Tomi Nikku (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Leo Kylätasku (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Jasmin Afaneh (trumpet, flugelhorn, flute, alto flute)
Ilkka Hongisto (french horn)
Mikko Haanpää (trombone)
Panu Luukkonen (trombone)
Matti Vuolahti (trombone)
Kenneth Ojutkangas (tuba, bass trombone)
Aleksis Liukko (piano)
Kaisa Mäensivu (double bass)
Siiri Partanen / Riku Leiniäinen (drums, percussion)

Eero ”Koippa” Koivistoinen turns 70 in January and kicks the year off with a series of concerts with UMO. This year also marks Koivistoinen’s 50th anniversary as an artist.

Koivistoinen, who is one of the best-known and most respected Finnish jazz musicians of all time, was one UMO’s founding members and worked as its artistic director for a time. Koivistoinen stepped into the limelight in 1969 by winning the group competition at Montreux jazz festival with his quartet. The win in Montreux resulted in a slot at the legendary Newport jazz festival in the US.

The concerts feature a cross-section of the works he’s written for big band over the decades, as well as a few new pieces and arrangements produced for this series. The material runs the gamut from Finnish jazz to African rhythms and American funk. Koivistoinen will lead the orchestra himself.

On January 22nd at the Savoy Theater Koivistoinen will be joined by vocalist Johanna Iivanainen, who will interpret Koivistoinen’s songs with lyrics by, e.g., Junnu Vainio. Further celebrations of this amazing career in jazz will take place at Kanneltalo, Malmitalo and Vuotalo during the last week of the month.

Open event