Jazz Finland Live

GRANDE FINALE! The comedian, presenter and Finnish sweet heart Ernest Lawson and the one-man band Sam Weckman have delighted audiences all over Finland with their music-based comedy show Hymypoika. The tour culminates spectacularly together with the 17 musicians of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, lifting their music to new heights and dimensions.

Come and witness the result of combining stand up and music with a really grande jazz orchestra! We promise you an evening full of laughter.

The song lyrics are written by Ernest Lawson and the music by Sam Weckman. The arrangements for UMO are made by Pessi Levanto, known for his film scores. The unique and unforgettable show is conducted by Ed Partyka.

Nota bene: the show is in Finnish.

The duration is around 2,5 h, including intermission.

The show is recommended for ages 15 years and older.

Ernest Lawson has amused and entertained the Finnish people for many years in popular Finnish TV programs like Putous and Tanssii Tähtien Kanssa. Besides his work on TV, the multi-talent has performed around a thousand times on different comedy stages. Ernest’s self-deprecating and always topical humour draws from among other things middle age, parenthood and the biggest phenomenons of the 2020’s.

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra is the only professional orchestra in Finland specialised in jazz and new rhythm-oriented music. The big band of 16 musicians plays about 100 concerts every year in Finland and abroad. The orchestra plays a diverse range of modern music that is on the pulse of the times. The programme varies from jazz to soul and classical music, mixing old and new in surprising way, from children to senior citizens. www.umohelsinki.fi

Open event

Tickets 25€

Varre Vartiainen's Organ Freemen! organ trio joins musical forces with top saxophonist Timo Lassy. The quartet's repertoire includes tracks from the Kerava-born guitarist's album Almost Standards, selections from Lassy's extensive body of work, as well as the group's as-yet unreleased material.

On stage, the musical worlds of two artists merge! In addition to Vartiainen and Lassy, the ensemble features organ virtuoso and jazz doctor Mikko Helevä, with drums played by Vartiainen's own son, Roni Vartiainen.

"Just got a chance to listen to the Almost Standards album from Varre. Beautiful! Varre plays his ass off! Wonderful guitar playing! The tunes are beautiful and the band is smoking!" — Mike Stern

"Guitarist Varre Vartiainen brings together the best domestic talent in jazz on his surprise album. The result is a fascinating double-exposure effect. A fresh and organic musical play of the familiar and the unfamiliar." — Harri Uusitorppa, HS

Open event

Free entry

As part of the Kerava Jazz Festival, traditional jam sessions are organized where musicians gather to immerse themselves in the world of jazz standards. The house band is led by guitarist Lasse Keso, who also acts as the jam host.

Open event

Tickets 20/15€

Herd and Aili Ikonen celebrate the 10 year anniversary of their Jazzbasilli album with a series of concerts. The programme consists of Laila Kinnunen’s evergreens and other hits from the golden age of jazz schlagers.

Open event

Turku Jazz Orchestra's opening concert pays tribute to jazz legend Rahsaan Roland Kirk. As guest soloist the orchestra features seminal saxophonist Mikko Innanen.

Open event

Tickets 18,50 €

Guitarist Janne Halonen releases his first album Music From The Zone in Lobby Myyrmäki. The album is mainly jazz, but including spices from global south, especially from West Africa. This band is working "From The Zone" - in a fluent flow. Halonen is a versatile musician: a guitarist, composer, producer and a founder of Finnish-African band Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble.

Before the album release gig, saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen plays solo. Pauli Lyytinen is known from operating with free jazz and improvisation and electro-acoustic modern music.

Open event