Jazz Finland Live

Doors: 18:00

Showtime: 19:00

Helsinki's most impactful jazz event We Jazz Festival takes over G Livelab. On stage: two strong groups from the influential New York scene.

Borderlands trio is Kris Davis on piano, Stephan Crump on double bass and Eri McPherson on drums. As journalist Peter Margasak writes: "Borderlands Trio's works float, roil, swing, breathe, rush, and sparkle without every revealing any sort of hesitation or falling into a rut. The musicians don’t follow one another and they eschew glib reaction. Instead, they sit with the flowing ideas, thinking ahead about where the music could go."

Alto saxophonist and composer Darius Jones arrives in Helsinki hot on the heels of his major new work "fLuXkit Vancouver (its suite but sacred)" co-released by We Jazz Records and Northern Spy. Now, Jones takes the stage with a never-before-heard formation entitled Helsinki Accord, bringing together local musicians Aino Juutilainen on cello and Joonas Leppänen on drums (both from AINON), plus Berlin-based bassist Nick Dunston. Expect music yet unheard.

Finland's leading IPA brewery hosts a tasting at G Livelab Helsinki during We Jazz. In the tasting, you will get to know various beer styles and the history and operations of Espoo's first brewery with the guidance of an expert.

“Think of Borderlands Trio as an all-star team of should-be jazz luminaries.” - The New York Times

"As composer and bandleader, Jones cultivates contexts that help summon common manifestations." – The Wire

BORDERLANDS TRIO
Kris Davis, piano / Stephan Crump, double bass / Eric McPherson, drums

DARIUS JONES HELSINKI ACCORD
Darius Jones, alto sax / Aino Juutilainen, cello / Nick Dunston, double bass / Joonas Leppänen, drums

Open event

Tickets 15/10€

Experienced music industry multi-talent, songwriter, pop artist, and soul magician Antti Kleemola will sing as a soloist with the Jazz Jkl Collective, interpreting jazz classics that groove in both traditional and modern styles from various decades. The setlist includes songs recorded by the likes of Frank Sinatra, George Benson, and Al Jarreau.

Soulful singer-songwriter Antti Kleemola from Jyväskylä has become known to a wide audience through his pop gems on solo albums and his hit songs for other artists. Kleemola has previously shone as a soloist in UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra's Stevie Wonder tribute concerts and in the Funky Finns soul band, which was a hit at last summer's Pori Jazz Festival. Kleemola's interpretations of jazz songs are spiced up with soul and pop nuances.

Antti Kleemola – vocals
Tuomas Paukku – guitar
Marian Petrescu – piano
Pekka Törmänen – bass
Kasper Halttunen – drums

Open event

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and Oulu Symphony Orchestra continue their co-operation and join their ranks into one large orchestra with more than fifty members. This concert lets the audience enjoy some of the most beautiful work by American composer Burt Bacharach (1928-2023) under the direction of conductor Teemu Takanen. Takanen has orchestrated a concert full of Bacharach’s most popular hits for a large light music ensemble. The jazz and soul singers Nina Mya and Tuomo Prättälä perform as featured vocalists.

The concert features some of Bacharach’s most beloved compositions, including The Look Of Love, Walk On By, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head and I Say A Little Prayer. All in all, Bacharach composed more than 70 songs that appeared on the Top 40 list in the United States, and his work has also been heard in films, television series and musicals. During his career, he received six Grammy awards and three Oscars.

Teemu Takanen conductor, arrangements

Nina Mya, vocals

Tuomo Prättälä, vocals

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra

Oulu Symphony Orchestra 

Open event