Jazz Finland Live

The acclaimed Django Collective Helsinki - club at Tenho! Django Collective Helsinki is a group of skilled professional musicians sharing the love for the passion and expression of Gypsy Jazz music. The Collective started out in 2011 and have since steadily been performing at jazz festivals, clubs and private occations. They're also known for hosting jam sessions in Helsinki which were a phenomenon of sorts for a decade.

At the monthly recurring club in Tenho the group plays the romantic, traditional and good-humored Gypsy Swing in the styles on Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli from the 30-50's. The group is also merging the tradition with modern, more creative qualities of jazz expression with it's own original compositions, bringing into being the possible future for this type of music in a fresh way.

Marjo Leinonen is one of the most legendary Finnish roots music artists. She is known as a charismatic and enchanting live performer whos' performances are grooving, entertaining and full of sparkling energy. When she was younger, she was often called Finland's Janis Joplin, which has strongly defined her image ever since. Leinonen's career began as the singer of the popular Finnish band The Balls at the end of the 1980s. The band played strong blues rock and rhythm'n'blues.

What will happen when Marjo's creative power collides with swing music and jazz? Billie Holiday's sound isn't necessarily far when that happens, although comparing Marjo to other icons should be pointless. Leinonen is one of the Finnish icons of rhythm music in her own right.

Jorma Tapio: woodwind instruments, flutes
Pepa Päivinen: woodwind instruments, flutes
Juho Kanervo: cello

Puhti is a new “chamber music” band with two woodwind blowers and a cellist. Trio’s musicians have a strong background in jazz, improvised music, rock and classical music.

Pepa Päivinen and Jorma Tapio have a common playing history since the early days of the Edward Vesala Sound and Fury. Vesala’s strong, original northern sound, spiced up with “Finnish blues”, rubato and classic nuances, has influenced the band’s sound. Cellist Juho Kanervo brings a fresh addition to the band by his spontaneous and rare musicianship.

The band’s music is colourful and interesting, extending from strict compositions to intuitive improvisation. Most of the compositions are made by members of the band.

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden, The Finnish Music Foundation and The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike).

Open event