Jazz Finland Live

Experience a new summery concert series with big band Sointi Jazz Orchestra in the stunning milieu of Tori Quarters, just off Helsinki Market Square.

In July, your lunch will be spiced up with a generous dose of jazz when members of Sointi Jazz Orchestra form unique, one-off jazz ensembles to entertain at three different venues. Each concert kicks off at noon. 

The third edition sees unusual trio line-up, formed by three horns, take the stage in the inner courtyard of the City Hall and Kaffeehaus Röntgen. Prepare yourself for exquisite melodic lines and sky-high improvisation. 

Max Zenger, baritone sax & bass clarinet
Janne Saarinen, oboe
Tomi Nikku, trumpet & flugelhorn

Free entry!

The Finnish Jazz Federation warmly welcomes you to the 17th Jazz-Espa Festival. The two-week concert series sees twenty Finnish jazz acts entertain music-lovers this summer on the Espa Stage in the Esplanadi Park. All Jazz-Espa concerts are accessible, free of charge and open to all ages. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Finnish Jazz Federation, Jazz-Espa dresses up to a Jazz Federation's colours and turns up the volume by presenting as many as three large orchestras this year. The crown jewel of these big-band-sized ensembles is of course UMO Jazz Orchestra.

Thu 28th of July Takatonic

Takatonic

Teemu Takanen – alto & sopr. sax, Sampo Kasurinen – ten. sax, Heikki Tuhkanen – trmb, Eero Seppä – b, Joonas Riippa – dr

Led by saxophonist-composer Teemu Takanen, Takatonic is a jazz ensemble started in 2008. A constellation of five virtuoso instrumentalists, the group performs their leader’s original music whose rhythmic, melodic and harmonic elements display a tangible reliance on tradition.

Thu 28th of July Jargoslavia

Jargoslavia

Jarkko Niemelä – tr, alto sax, voc, Antti Kujanpää – organ, Petri Kautto – g, voc, Jori Huhtala – b, Tuomas Timonen – dr

Jargoslavia was born when saxophonist Jarkko Niemelä got the idea to marry Balkan and Middle Eastern sounds with jazz in 2012. Since that the group has played extensively at ethno music festivals and clubs in St Petersburg, Tallinn and Finland, and they are currently adding the finishing touches on their first album. Upcoming gigs include Turku’s acclaimed inter-artistic H2Ö Festival and at Jazz-Espa they will be testing the effect of their winning Balkan groove on jazz fans.

Jazz-Espa, July 25 – Aug 6, 2016

Espa Stage, Esplanadi Park

Concerts start at 4:00PM and 5:30PM every weekday (on Mondays at 4:00PM only). Saturday concerts are held at 3:00PM. 

Jazz-Espa 2016 programme:

Open event