April Jazz: Alexander Hawkins Trio, Selma Savolainen Horror Vacui,Espoon kulttuurikeskus, espoo24.4. At 20:30
Alexander Hawkins Trio
8pm doors
8:30pm Alexander Hawkins Trio
aprrox. 9:45pm intermission
aprrox. 10:15pm Selma Savolainen Horror Vacui
Tickets 31/26 € + order fees (from 1,50 €), Lippu.fi
Duration approx. 2 h 45 min with intermission
Louhi Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre
Kulttuuriaukio 2, 02100 Espoo (Google Maps / HSL Journey Planner)
Together with Neil Charles and Stephen Davis, they form a trio that produces an impressive sound and perfect timing, showcasing the interaction between freedom and structure, composition, and improvisation. Their album Carnival Celestial was released by Intakt Records in 2023 and received a series of glowing reviews, much like their debute trio album from 2015.
Alexander Hawkins’ unique sonic world is shaped by a deep fascination with composition and structure, along with a love for randomness and openness of sounds. He is a highly sought-after composer, including by the BBC, Berlin's Pierre Boulez Saal, and numerous festivals. His performances take him to club, concert hall, and festival stages around the world.
He regularly collaborates with musicians of all generations, including names like Anthony Braxton, Marshall Allen, Evan Parker, John Surman, Joe McPhee, Hamid Drake, Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid, Sofia Jernberg, Shabaka Hutchings, and many others.
Alexander Hawkins, piano, sampler (UK)
Neil Charles, double bass (UK)
Stephen Davis, drums (UK)
Selma Savolainen is a vocalist and composer based in Helsinki, who effortlessly combines Finnish folk sounds with jazz and alt singer-songwriter styles. Recently awarded with the Rising Talent Prize at the Pori Jazz Festival, she has been praised by the Helsingin Sanomat as a singer who is taking Finnish vocal jazz to new heights.
Her debut solo record Horror Vacui was in May, 2023. It features some of the most sought-after musicians on the Finnish jazz scene – Max Zenger on clarinets, Tomi Nikku on trumpet, Toomas Keski-Säntti on piano, Eero Tikkanen on double bass and Okko Saastamoinen on drums.
Horror Vacui is a set of songs composed and arranged specifically for this sextet, exploring the fear of emptiness, renunciation and sudden discoveries. "By creating space for every musician's voice, we hope to find a place where loneliness does not exist," Savolainen says.
Selma Savolainen, lvocals
Toomas Keski-Säntti, piano
Eero Tikkanen, double bass
Okko Saastamoinen, drums
Tomi Nikku, trumpet
Max Zenger, clarinets
April Jazz: JatkojamitOriginal Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden, espoo24.4. At 21:00
After the concerts at Espoo Cultural Centre join us at the official afterparty jam session at Original Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden! Jam sessions hosted by April Jazz Houseband.
Free entry!
April Jazz Houseband
Manuel Dunkel, Jam Host, tenor saxophone (25.-26.4. klo 22 ->)
Mirja Mäkelä, vocal (25.-26.4.)
Tuomo Dahlblom, guitar (24.-26.4.) / Sami Linna, guitar (27.7.)
Markus Niittynen, piano
Joonas Tuuri, bass (24.-26.4.) / Filemon Von Numers, bass (27.4.)
Rami Eskelinen, drums
April Jazz: F-Musiikki StageEspoon kulttuurikeskus, espoo24.4. At 17:15
Tisdag
Aino Lindroos
Young musicians playing on the F-Musiikki Stage at the lobby of Espoo Cultural Centre from Wednesday to Saturday. Free entry!
Ebeli
17.15 –18.00 Tisdag
19.50 – 20.20 Aino Lindroos
April Jazz: Club For Five & RajatonEspoon kulttuurikeskus, espoo24.4. At 18:00
Club For Five
Come and enjoy the performances of Finland's most popular a cappella groups, Club For Five and Rajaton, in an interim concert.
Club For Five stands out with its remarkable versatility. Combination of diverse musical backgrounds and distinctive vocal abilities of the five musicians have laid foundation for striking musical vibrancy and reputation Club For Five has today. Club For Five is influenced by international pop and jazz, but also rooted in Nordic music tradition in their approach. Club For Five’s versatility has led to collaborations with artists and ensembles ranging from jazz trios to symphony orchestras.
Having released 12 albums Club For Five is world-renowned for high-level studio work. In addition, the gold-selling quintet simply thrives live on stage lifting audiences with their contagious sparkle and unbound repertoire depicting a plethora of different musical styles. Constantly striving for the upmost quality while simultaneously not taking themselves too seriously is a big part of the band’s appeal. The tonal fluidity of the group extends to many genres and locations. Having a blast on big festival stages comes to Club For Five as naturally as an acoustical church performance.
Maija Sariola, soprano
Saima Haapanen, alto
Jouni Kannisto, tenor
Juha Viitala, baritone
Tuukka Haapaniemi, bass
Regularly performing around a hundred concerts and workshops each year, Rajaton exposes their audiences to the kind of diversity of repertoire, singing style, and stage presentation that has made them a phenomenon on the world stage. Performing at concert halls, churches, jazz and choral festivals, this distinct group of musicians approaches all styles of music with the same level of commitment and integrity. In Finland, Rajaton is a bona fide pop phenomenon, successfully bridging the gap that often exists between classical and mainstream convention.
Ever seeking new artistic challenges, the group has grown immeasurably through collaborations with other a cappella artists, including The King’s Singers and The Real Group, as well as productions with film directors and choreographers. But it is perhaps their deep passion for choral art, their generosity of spirit and their sheer enjoyment of singing that has won the hearts and acclaim of audiences and critics everywhere.
Aili Ikonen, soprano
Essi Wuorela, soprano
Soila Sariola, alto
Antti Annola, tenor
Ahti Paunu, baritone
Jussi Chydenius, bass
Tickets €49/44 + order fees (from €1.50), Lippu.fi
Duration approx. 2 h incl. intermission
Tapiola Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre
Kulttuuriaukio 2, 02100 Espoo (Google Maps / HSL Journey Planner)
