Jazz Finland Live

21.00 Aurora Hentunen Quintet (FI)

In spring 2018, the recording career of pianist-composer Aurora Hentunen (b. 1991) got off to a promising start, but the timing of what followed was unfortunate – albeit through no fault of her own. Hentunen’s second ensemble album Frost (2019), which was more balanced than its predecessor, was released just six months before the COVID-19 pandemic put a long halt to touring, including two already agreed upon European tours. Because of the unavoidable delays, Hentunen is only now coming out with her third album Little Further, five years after the second and just in time for Tampere Jazz Happening.

Moving little further, at last! And now also with the help of a star guest. One of the tracks on the upcoming album, Gray Waves, features Grammy winner Linda May Han Oh on double bass, a familiar face from several top ensembles.

Aurora Hentunen – pno, keyb; Ukko Heinonen – tsax, efects; Joona Kilponen – tp; Veli-Matti Silanterä – b; Ville Luukkonen – dr

22.30 Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease (FI)

Vocalist, flutist and voice lecturer Josefiina Vannesluoma (b. 1990) is best known from the vocal ensemble Signe that features an unusual lineup of three vocalists and a double bass. Of their five albums, two have already been nominated for the Jazz Emma Award, Finland’s Grammy for the jazz album of the year, and one for the Teosto Prize.

Vannesluoma, a Master of Music, started her solo career also from the top as her debut solo project The Mortal Lease (2023) was one of the five nominees for the Jazz Emma last spring, 2024.

Josefiina Vannesluoma – voc; Mikael Myrskog – pno; Joonas Tuuri –b; Ville Luukkonen – dr; Sampo Kasurinen – reeds

00.00 Kaisa’s Machine (FI)

Kaisa’s Machine, led by double bassist-composer Kaisa Mäensivu (b. 1990), has performed at Tampere Jazz Happening once before, eight years ago in November 2016. Back then, the group had been together for only a year, and their debut album In The Key of K (2017) would not be out for another 12 months.

Fast forward to today, the situation is quite different. “The new bright star of Finnish jazz”, as was touted by the Jazz Happening programme, is a well-established, New York-based Master of Jazz from two universities in two countries. For three years, Mäensivu has also been the artistic director of Savoy JazzFest in Helsinki, which broke its attendance record last March. 

The now almost 10-year-old Kaisa’s Machine is still Mäensivu’s main own ensemble, despite it understandably having two separate versions: one in the US and the other in Finland and Europe.  

Kaisa Mäensivu – b; Toomas Keski-Säntti – pno; Mikko Antila – vib; Max Zenger – sax; Anssi Tirkkonen – dr

65/50 €

Yrjö Award 2024

Finnish Jazz Federation’s Yrjö Award, the most notable recognition given to jazz musicians in Finland, will be awarded already for the 11th time at the Tampere Jazz Happening. The event will also see the Taimi Award presented for the second time to a young musician who has developed their musical expression with passion, paving the way for the future of jazz music. With the award, Finnish Jazz Federation wants to encourage young musicians to seek their own voice and showcase it. Since 1988, Finnish Jazz Federation has also awarded the discretionary Andania Award for long-lasting and distinguished efforts for the good of Finnish jazz.

In addition, the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle will hand out their own Varjo-Yrjö Award (“Shadow Yrjö”) for the promotion of jazz culture in Finland.

The event culminates in a performance by the 2024 Yrjö Award winner. 

David Helbock's Random/Control feat. Filippa Gojo | AT

David Helbock (b. 1984), a pianist and composer who has made about thirty albums, has many irons in the fire: at least a quintet, three trios, and a duo, on top of playing solo. And of course he must forge, because according to an unverified story, the old German surname Helbock might have come from a village blacksmith who forged helmets or armour in his forge.

Helbock’s first appearance at the Tampere Jazz Happening offers something original and even new, because at the heart of the Pakkahuone programme are the pieces he has composed to poems by William Blake, Emily Dickinson and Erich Fried, among others. That’s why the trio will be joined this time by singer Filippa Gojo (b. 1988), an award-winning Austrian, who for instance leads her own jazz quartet. 

Mats Gustafsson & Kimmo Pohjonen

Accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen (b. 1964) has taken the stage in various productions with ensembles, ballet dancers, wrestlers and running farming engines alike. But there is a combination that has never been heard before in Finland: at Tampere Jazz Happening, Pohjonen will share the big stage with a saxophonist, only for the second time in his long career.

The first time was last May in the capital of Slovenia Ljubljana, where Pohjonen met the Swedish Mats Gustafsson (b. 1964) at the 40th anniversary of a local world music event. This was the first time they played together – or properly met. The idea of a duo concert was proposed to Pohjonen by the promoter of Druga Godba Festival Bogdan Benigar. 

David Murray Quartet

Tenor saxophonist and bass clarinettist David Murray (b. 1955) was a tireless hero already at the onset of middle-age. Now, over thirty years later, his productivity might just take your breath away. A long-time resident of Europe, Murray has made over a hundred albums of his own and featured on 300 or so other records since 1976.

It might just be that “quantity increases quality, as you only learn by doing” – as was stated by the 39-year-old Murray in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat in November 1994 just before his fourth Tampere Jazz Happening concert. 

Open event