Jazz Finland Live

Staffan Södergård - Fender Rhodes
Otto Kyrklund - guitar
Mikael Jurmu - drums 
Lauri Vertanen - percussion 
Iiro Tulkki - bass
Antti Vauhkonen - saxophone & flute

Open event

Open event

Alder Ego is the debut album of the 2014 quartet led by drummerJoonas Leppänen. The quartet – Leppänen on drums, Tomi Nikku on trumpet, Jarno Tikka on tenor sax and Teemu Åkerblom on bass – continued to charm their audiences with their folk-nuanced, melodic jazz until year 2018, when they were picked up by We Jazz Records. The Helsinki-based label releases a small number of cutting edge jazz albums, and Alder Ego's sophomore II is one of them. II is described to "follow the “harmolodics” approach of Ornette Coleman" (Peter Slavid, London Jazz News) and it is indeed, operating without a harmony instrument. Rich in melody, surprises and layers, Alder Ego is chamber music played by a jazz quartet. 

All the musicians repreent the new generation of creative jazzers: drummer-composer Joonas Leppänen is known from his cool jazz ensemble Big Blue, Jarno Tikka plays in OK:KO, Tomi Nikku and Teemu Åkerblom in Maxxxtet. Åkerblom is replaced on this tour by bassist Nate Francis, who studies in Sibelius Academy.

Listen to Alder Ego: II on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Lc48KK

Alder Ego
Joonas Leppänen, drums / Tomi Nikku, trumpet / Jarno Tikka, tenor saxophone / Nathan Francis, double bass

Alder Ego Suomen on Jazz Finland Tour 
Wed 25.9. at 20 Oulu, Vanha Paloasema Bar, tickets 15/10€
Fri 27.9. at 20 Espoo, April Jazz Club, Tapiola Garden, tickets 13€
Sat 28.9. at 20 Porvoo Jazz Festival, Vanha 123, w/ Superposition! at 21.00, tickets 30/25/20€
Mon 30.9. at 19 Kotka, Ravintola Kairo, tickets 10/8/5€
Tue 1.10. at 19 Savonlinna, Kulttuurikellari, tickets 20/15€ at the door, 18/13€ pre-sale 
Wed 2.10. at 19 Kuopio, Restaurant Gusto RunIn, tickets 18/15€
Thu 3.10. at 19 Joensuu, Pakkahuone, tickets 15/10/5€
Fri 4.10. at 19 Raahe, Raahen Teatteri, tickets 15/10/5€

Open event

Open event

George Gershwin revisited by a phenomenal clarinet and piano duo from France. In their intimate interplay Jean-Marc Foltz and Stéphan Oliva reinterpret the master of the ultramarine blue in magnificent night music that breathes and resonates with silence.

The album GERSHWIN has been released on Vision Fugitive -records on May 2016:
Clearly, a George Gershwin tribute recording doesn’t just come down to a selection of celebrated standards played by accomplished musicians emulating his style. More so than with any other repertoire, a deep understanding of his rich harmonies, keen awareness of his history – making music that never gets old sound new again – and singular savvy to eschew every jazz cliché in the book while respecting tradition is paramount. Clarinettist Jean-Marc Foltz and pianist Stéphan Oliva have been cultivating these three distinctive qualities for over a decade.

Open event