Jazz Finland Live

Lizz Wright’s Finnish debute with her own band!

The dark-voiced singer who enchanted the sold out Huvila marquee at the Helsinki Festival in 2019 will perform at April Jazz in Espoo!

Lizz Wright culls inspiration from her Southern upbringing in Georgia where she was the musical director of a small church in which her father was the pastor. Gospel music, and the call and response singing with the church congregation, informed her first brushes with music. At home, Wright was exposed to a variety of music, especially jazz and soul. Soon she was wading through The Great American Songbook on her way to a successful singing career. In addition to strong gospel influences, Wright's soulful sound also contains jazz, blues and R&B.

Wright moved to Atlanta in the late 1990s to study at Georgia State University and sang mostly jazz, both solo and as part of the popular local band In The Spirit. In 2002 Wright made a name for herself nationally as a vocalist with a touring concert tribute to Billie Holiday, where her poised performance stole the show. A year later she signed with Verve Records for the release of Salt, which topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts and became one of the most praised albums of 2003. Twenty years and six albums later, Lizz Wright has demonstrated that she is a top notch songwriter as well as an unmatched interpreter of songs.

Lizz Wright, vocals (US)
Kenny Banks Sr., piano (US)
Adam Levy, guitar (US)
Ben Zwerin, bass (FR)
Michael Jerome Moore, drums (US)

Tickets €55/49 + order fees (from €1.50), Lippu.fi
Duration approx. 1h 30min, no intermission

Steve Coleman And Five Elements

Steve Coleman is the undisputed protagonist of contemporary jazz. Capable of mixing jazz with hip-hop and the rhythms of funk, Coleman was able to study the great masters such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Duke Elllington and Charles Mingus and develop a very personal style. In his long career, the saxophonist from Chicago has worked to keep his artistic horizons open, so as not to remain a prisoner in the comfortable traps of acquired patterns. Leader of numerous formations, since 1981 Coleman has carried out, with the Five Elements, a complex work of experimentation.

Steve Coleman, alto saxophone (US)
Jonathan FInlayson, trumpet (US)
Rich Brown, bass (CA)
Sean Rickman, rummut (US)

Verneri Pohjola

Performing solo is truly an art for masters, which suits trumpeter Verneri Pohjola particularly well. In a solo performance, Pohjola’s diverse sound palette and technique is given a spotlight that it deserves. The lyrical melodies are weaved into more unconventional trumpet techniques and electronics, creating a vivid musical experience.

The unique sound and style of trumpeter and composer Verneri Pohjola is immediately recognizable. His work communicates particular depth, warmth and humanness through eloquent improvisation. Pohjola has had continuous success in making improvisation and jazz music approachable for audiences across genres, while never losing will to explore and surprise. During his career, Pohjola has played in acclaimed jazz groups such as Ilmiliekki Quartet, Quintessence and Q-Continuum. He was rewarded with Emma-award for his record “Bullhorn” in 2015 and Yrjö-award in 2017.

Verneri Pohjola, trumpet, electronics

Tickets €35/29 + booking fee (from. €1,50), Lippu.fi
Duration appr. 2h 45min, incl. intermission

7:30PM Doors
8PM Verneri Pohjola
Intermission
9.30PM Steve Coleman And Five Elements

Open event