Jazz Finland Live
Vibraphonist Arttu Takalo is best known abroad for his fantasy jazz ensemble XL. The five-piece toured extensively in the 90's and it's members have made remarkable careers in their respective fields of music. Takalo has worked with a number of Finnish jazz, rock and pop artists, composed and arranged music for classical orchestras and films. His latest band L'Alliance Takalo released their first record in 2017, and played a dream-like soundtrack of a Parisian bistro. On their second album, themanintheshadows (2019), the jazzy and progressive tones are more prominent, and each of the Finnish front-row instrumentalists have a stronger soloist presence.
Arttu Takalo – vibraphone, Niko Kumpuvaara – accordion, Ville Pynssi – drums, Ville Herrala – bass
Gigs on the same day in helsinki
Jazz-Espa: Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal LeaseEspan lava, helsinki28.7. At 13:00
Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease
Singer, flautist and composer Josefiina Vannesluoma hails from Turku in the South-Western coast of Finland. Her trademarks are crystal-clear upper register and her finely-tuned improvisation. She herself says that she is “inspired by visual arts, languages and cafés”. Many Finns know Vannesluoma from a vocal group Signe, whose acclaimed debut album To Sappho was nominated for Jazz Emma (the Finnish Jazz Grammy) in 2019. The Mortal Lease concert fetaures Vannesluoma’s compositions to the American poet Edith Wharton’s (1862 - 1937) series The Mortal Lease. Written in 1908, the eight sonnets form a meditation of love and describe the struggles of human nature between virtue and desire.
Josefiina Vannesluoma – vocals, Mikael Myrskog – piano, Nathan Francis (USA) – double bass, Ville Luukkonen – drums
The Helsinki-based 9-piece outfit, led by composer Ville Kyttälä, has already been noted abroad and no wonder: in its ranks we find such notable young professionals as Linda Fredriksson from the adored Mopo trio, and trumpeter Martti Vesala whose name has appeared in the jazz bible Downbeat. Combining different styles without fear or prejudice, the group sets out to stretch the boundaries of jazz music. Their catchy pieces and energetic live shows have not only won over friends of jazz but also earned them fans from outside the jazz scene. The band describe Njet Njet 9 at its best is like “Zappa and Zawinul playing tennis doubles with Massive Attack at a Swedish summer cabin”. The band’s third release comes out in the spring of 2020.
Ville Kyttälä – keyboards, Linda Fredriksson – saxophone, Ville Vannemaa – saxophone, Pekka Seppänen – saxophone, Martti Vesala – trumpet, Mikko Haanpää – trombone, Veikki Virkajärvi – guitar, Heikki Laine – bass, Erik Fräki – drums
