Jazz Finland Live

Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble is a Helsinki-based afrobeat band with strong ties to Benin of West Africa. The ensemble's fourth record "We Are Together" was inspired by American soul classics and they delivered ten new songs of grooving funk with an urban twist. As fRoots Magazine writes: "Weather Report meets Fela".

Noël Saïzonou, voc & perc / Janne Halonen, gtr & voc / Sampo Riskilä, bass & voc / Juha Räsänen, drs & voc / Mikko Pettinen, trp & voc / Joakim Berghäll, sax & voc / Menard Mponda, perc & voc / Visa Oscar, keys

Tickets 39€

The long-term collaborative history between UMO and Iro Haarla will see a continuation in Easter time when the big band and the pianist-harpist give a church tour around the Uusimaa region. In addition to the metropolitan area – Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa – the tour reaches to the cities of Porvoo and Askola. It also comprises an afternoon concert at the Helsinki Music Centre on the Holy Thursday.

Entitled Silent Music, the concert gives a cross-section of the compositions that UMO has commissioned from Haarla over her career. Among others, the programme includes the piece Ante Lucem  – ennen päivän koittoa (2005; Eng.Before the Dawn), delving on the events of Easter and the passion of Christ; Kurkien taru (2006; Eng. The Tale of the Cranes) portraying the migration of the majestic birds; and Led by the Wind (2015) – a piece inspired by the might of the wind. The concert will also see the premiere of the title composition, Silent Music (2019), written specifically for the occasion. Many of Haarla’s works initially premiered by UMO have lived on in different arrangements in the repertories of her own ensembles and even on recordings. The Easter concert will be conducted by Mikko Hassinen – already a well-known face at UMO’s helm.

– With my music I aim at bringing some light to the listener, stirring deep feelings and promoting the ability to feel pleasure and pass it on. The main thought behind the concert is finding a quietness within oneself; following the deep sonic textures, the undulating flow of sound, towards the light. Playing with UMO and conductor Mikko Hassinen is an exceptionally interesting chance for me to realise these ideas, Haarla says. 

Open event