Jazz Finland Live

The heavy-hitters in Finnish jazz, Reiska Laine Quintet, tour the country on 10 concerts during September 11–25. The Jazz Finland tour takes the ensemble to Turku, Salo, Kotka, Joensuu, Kuopio, Savonlinna, Espoo, Kokkola and Raahe. The last show of the tour stars the Porvoo Jazz Festival on Saturday, the 25th of September.

Over his 50-year long career, drummer Reiska Laine has played as a sideman in so many famous bands and orchestras, but never has he led his own ensemble. Now this mistake is finally corrected, and Laine has invited his dream team to his quintet. In Maestro’s own words, Reiska Laine Quintet features the “Ideal Rhythm Duo” of pianist-keyboardist Seppo Kantonen and double bassist Ulf Krokfors, and the “Sax Legends” Eero Koivistoinen and Juhani Aaltonen. All the musicians have been awarded with the prestigious Yrjö prize, so this combo really is the “who-is-who” in Finnish jazz. On the Jazz Finland tour pianist Kantonen will be substituted with the internationally acclaimed star of a younger generation, Alexi Tuomarila.

The quintet mesmerized the audiences and got raving reviews for their 2019 and 2020 concerts at Pori Jazz, Jazz-Espa and Tampere Jazz Happening. Their unbeatable experience and visionary expression show in their own original pieces and take the few Coltrane covers from the 1960s to another level.

Reiska Laine Quintet
Reiska Laine, drums / Eero Koivistoinen, tenor saxophone / Juhani Aaltonen, tenor saxophone, flute / Alexi Tuomarila, piano / Ulf Krokfors, double bass