Jazz Finland Live
OK:KO is a fresh quartet from Helsinki led by drummer Okko Saastamoinen. The band's spiritual and searching sound is characterised by their highly personal musical language and genuine teamwork, honed by continuous touring in between the band's 2017 debut and their second album Syrtti, to be released on Helsinki's We Jazz Records on 22 February.
The ensemble includes some of the most sought-after talents of the young generation of Finnish jazz. Soulful sax player Jarno Tikka continues his rise to the top after his strong effort on the previous We Jazz LP, Alder Ego II. Bassist Mikael Saastamoinen (no relation to Okko) is the current "Rising Star" of Helsinki's We Jazz Festival with his solo project Perussastamala, and while pianist Toomas Keski-Säntti may be the least known name here, he makes a strong mark with his thoughtful touch on the piano on several tracks on Syrtti.
The OK:KO band sound has its origins on the spiritual pool of jazz, historically speaking, but the band brings forth a strong personal musical statement thanks to Okko Saastamoinen's memorable compositions and each musician's ability to bring their own vocabulary into the common musical language. Already a live favourite on the local scene, on Syrtti OK:KO shows that it's not a band of mere promise any longer – they deliver in the here and now.
credits
Okko Saastamoinen, drums / Jarno Tikka, sax / Toomas Keski-Säntti, piano / Mikael Saastamoinen, bass
Syrtti record release tour 2019:
Tuesday 12.2. at 7:30pm Tampere, Eclipse Jazz Club, Kulttuuriravintola Kivi
Friday 22.2. 7:00pm Kuhmo, Kuhmo-talo
Saturday 23.2. 7:00pm Mikkeli, Kulttuuritalo Tempo
Wednesday 27.2. 7:00pm Kuopio, Maxim
Thursday 28.2. 7:00pm Kajaani, Kaukametsän Kouta-sali
Saturday 2.3. 8:00pm Helsinki, Happy Friends Lauttasaari
Friday 8.3. 5:00pm Turku, Turku Jazz Festival, Logomo, Teatro
Saturday 9.3. 7:00 pm Pori, Validi Karkia -klubi
The tour is supported by Jazz Finland.
Gigs on the same day in helsinki
Afrojazz Club: Afrojazz Quintet feat Charlotta Kerbs & Ismaila SanéLavaklubi, Kansallisteatteri, helsinki2.3. At 21:00
Afrojazz Club is back in the center of Helsinki at Lavaklubi by the National Theatre! The club's house band Afrojazz Quintet features rising blues star Charlotta Kerbs and legendary Senegalese percussionist-singer Ismaila Sané. Two sets of dancefriendly afrofunk, afrosoul and atmospheric afrojazz in the company of top musicians! The band announces its long-awaited first single and plays material from their upcoming LP. Afrojazz Club also invites persons or organisations which reflect the club's values to give open mic talks before showtime, with themes such as diversity, humanitarian work, environment issues, solidarity, equality, indigenous people's rights, the peace movement and communality. Lavaklubi's pre-gig talk is given by entrepreneur Elvis Fuamba (Viske Oy), who is Co-founder and previous Chairman of Afrofinns ry and Secretary 2019 of Afrofinns ry. Warmly welcome to funk with us!
Afrojazz Quintet
Charlotta Kerbs - vocals
Ismaila Sané, -vocals, percussion
Antero Priha - trumpet, vocals
Julius Heikkilä - guitar
Daniel Iiskola - bass
Anssi Tirkkonen - drums
Alvar Gullichsen - percussion, guitar, vocals
Tickets 12€ in advance from National Theatre Ticket Office Tel. 010 733 1331 and 14€ by the door.
UMO & Severi PyysaloKoko Jazz Club, helsinki2.3. At 19:00
In this concert, Severi Pyysalo and UMO Jazz Orchestra play mostly the soloist’s own compositions. The conductor of the concert is Kirmo Lintinen.
Vibrafonist Severi Pyysalo (b. 1967) made his final breakthrough in 1984 at the Pori Jazz Festival when singer Sarah Vaughan and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera invited him to perform with them. Since then, Pyysalo has performed with various groups in Finland and abroad, including with Swedish bassist Anders Jormin and Danish pianist Thomas Clausen as well as with Finnish bands The Five Corners Quintet and Perko-Pyysalo Poppoo. Pyysalo was awarded the Yrjö prize in 1988 and in 1993 he was honoured as the European jazz soloist of the year and the Young artist of the year of the Pori Jazz Festival.
Aside his career in jazz, Pyysalo’s compositions have been played by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also composed music to Grimm’s fairy tales. Pyysalo has collaborated with UMO as a soloist, composer and arranger.
Tickets from Tiketti including service fee at 24,50 € / 20,50 €
