Jazz Finland Live

Espoo Big Band & Husband plays Lauma:

Espoo Big Band (EBB) is one of Finland’s most prominent big jazz orchestras and it’s especially known for performing new Finnish big band music. In April EBB will be releasing an album full of original music from a Finnish rock fusion band called Husband. The music of Varre Vartiainen and Jarmo Saari has been arranged for EBB and Husband by Saari, Lenni-Kalle Taipale and Marzi Nyman.

“Lauma” will be released by EMI Blue Note Records. The digital edition will be available worldwide from 23 March in e.g. iTunes, and Spotify. The CD edition will be available from 21 April and on the same date EBB & Husband will perform at the album release concert at April Jazz.

Espoo Big Band
Husband:
Varre Vartiainen, guitar
Marzi Nyman, guitar
Harri Rantanen, bass
Anssi Nykänen, drums

Aki Rissanen Trio:

Aki Rissanen Trio is without a doubt one of the most interesting Finnish jazz groups at the moment. Critics all over Europe have been praising the trio’s debut album “Amorandom” (Edition Records). Be sure to catch this album release concert at April Jazz! Pianist Aki Rissanen (b. 1980) has been quickly rising among the few top forces of the instrument in Finnish Jazz. Although originally classically trained he has always had a heart for improvised music. In addition to his high merits in the Solo Piano Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and La Defense competition in France, Rissanen is best known for his works with Verneri Pohjola on ACT Music in Germany. He has released 5 albums under his own name and gaining growing attention in the European jazz scene.

Aki Rissanen, piano
Antti Lötjönen, bass
Teppo Mäkynen, drums

“Is José James a jazz singer or a soul singer? Old school or new school? A guardian of tradition or a seeker of thrills? Yes, yes and yes.”
– Los Angeles Times

Since the beginning, Minneapolis native José James has always drawn from disparate musical influences. “Growing up, it seemed like there was a new groundbreaking album coming out every month. It was such an exciting time to be a fan of music. I can remember waiting for 10,000 Maniacs or Ice Cube to come out with a new album. That really stoked my creativity.”

This spring José James performs in Europe with his new band. At April Jazz we can expect to hear both his old music and songs from his new upcoming album “Love in a Time of Madness” (Blue Note, winter 2017). “I want to share the music with my fans first, before it becomes an album. I think it’s an amazing way to connect with people. See what moves an audience. That way, I’m only including songs on the record that are proven to inspire people. It’s tremendously rewarding to share my music like this, and this way my fans help me to create the album.”

José James, vocals, guitar
Takeshi Ohbayashi, keys
Solomon Dorsey, bass, vocals
Joe Blaxx, drums

Open event