Jazz Finland Live

In this recently premiered piece by composer-conductor Vellu Hakosalmi, vibraphonist Panu Savolainen and UMO Jazz Orchestra guide the listener to the adventures of childhood.

Playing Reality contemplates the essence of child’s play, and learning by playing. It depicts the evolvement of consciousness and the scenery of childhood: experiment, fumble, play, flashbacks and growing up. The vibraphone is the voice of a human being in the centre of this universe and the orchestra represents the rest of the world.

The soloist, vibraphonist Panu Savolainen (b. 1990), made his breakthrough to the elite of Finnish jazz already at the age of twenty. He was named the artist of the year of Pori Jazz Festival in 2010, and the next year, he won the Euro Jazz Competition of Dutch festival North Sea Jazz with his trio HERD. Savolainen is also the artistic director of Kalkkiranta Jazz Festival.

The composer Vellu Halkosalmi (b. 1971) conducts the concert himself. He is an architect of musical bridges that connect various styles, orchestras, and musicians. He has collaborated with many Finnish orchestras and musicians, and is a fairly popular arranger internationally as well. Some of his best-known collaborators are Metropole Orchestra, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones and Snarky Puppy.

The concert is played at Savoy Theatre 12–1 p.m. and is free of charge. Lunch is served next door at restaurant Presto before and after the concert (from €10.20). The lunch is not compulsory, so you can just walk in and enjoy the concert.

Production: UMO Jazz Orchestra, Savoy Theatre and restaurant Presto. 

Free entry!

Open event