Jazz Finland Live
April Jazz: Michael Dease & Espoo Big Band,Louhisali, Espoon Kulttuurikeskus, espoo26.4. At 20:00
Michael Dease
Michael Dease, the winner of the 69th Annual DownBeat Magazine Poll for Trombonist of the Year and multi-Grammy award winner, is also a sought-after lead, section and bass trombonist with today’s leading jazz orchestras. Dease is one of the world's eminent trombonists, lending his versatile sound and signature improvisations to over 200 recordings and groups as diverse as Grammy winning artists David Sanborn, Christian McBride, Michel Camilo, and Alicia Keys.
Born in Augusta, GA, he played the saxophone and trumpet before choosing the trombone at age 17. In 2001, Dease moved to New York City to become part of the historic first class of jazz students at The Juilliard School, earning both Bachelors and Masters degrees, and quickly established a reputation as a brilliant soloist, sideperson, and bandleader. His experiences include large jazz ensembles such as the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and WDR Big Band.
Always an informed, but forward-thinking musician, Dease learned the craft from trombone legends Wycliffe Gordon and Joseph Alessi. His associations have run the entire spectrum of musical experience: Paul Simon, Paul Schaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Elton John, Neal Diamond, Slide Hampton & The World of Trombones, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, George Gruntz, Billy Harper, and numerous others.
Turning 45 this year, Espoo Big Band (EBB) is one of Finland's leading large jazz orchestras. EBB has performed at several of the world’s most famous jazz festivals - including North Sea Jazz, Detroit, Montreaux and Paris - and released 13 albums. Numerous giants of jazz, such as Freddie Hubbard, Ray Charles, McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson, have performed with the band as soloists at the April Jazz Festival in Finland, hosted annually by EBB. The band is conducted by Marzi Nyman.
Michael Dease, trombone (US)
Marzi Nyman, conductor
Espoo Big Band
7:30pm doors
8pm showtime
Tickets 26/22 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Duration approx. 1 h 15 min, no intermission
Gigs on the same day in espoo
April Jazz: X//K feat. Xantoné Blacq & Kari PaavolaTapiolan Klubi, espoo26.4. At 22:00
X//K feat. Xantoné Blacq & Kari Paavola
"What do Michaeł Urbaniak, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Emeli Sandé, Randy Brecker, Earth Wind & Fire, Laura Mvula, Nigel Kennedy and Pee Wee Ellis have in common?”They have all trusted Xantone Blacq in their music adventures, either on stage or in studio.
X//K is his duo with Finnish drummer Kari Paavola (Womack and Womack, Vanessa Haynes, The Filthy Six, Enrique Iglesias, Imaani and Tasha Taylor etc.). The duo is a high energy funk-jazz show with improvisation, great deep grooves, Xantone’s impeccable writing, and some covers too.
Xantone Blacq is a songwriter, singer and a multi-instrumentalist. He is a well known fixture in the European Soul-Jazz and Nu-Soul scene. Xantone is an accomplished solo artist and a keyboardist for many today’s biggest stars. Xantone was with Amy Winehouse her whole career, and has since concentrated on his solo career. Xantone sells out the Famous Ronnie Scott’s every time he plays there and performs all around Europe with his music. Xantone is currently focusing on his solo career, but over the past years has performed with Brit Award winning Emilie Sandé, famed Headhunters bassist Paul Jackson and Michal Urbaniak among others.
Xantoné Blacq, vocals, keys (UK)
Kari Paavola, drums
6:30pm dinner (reservation required)
10pm X//K Feat. Xantoné Blacq
Tickets 15 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
April Jazz: Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble feat. NasiboSellosali, espoo26.4. At 19:00
Combining traditional West African rhythms with jazz, funk and soul, the Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble (HCE) has been a favorite of many rhythm music lovers for over a decade. HCE returned to the stage last fall with the release of their sixth album “Vive l’amour”. At April Jazz, HCE’s concert takes on a completely new tone when the charismatic Zimbabwean singer Nasibo joins them as guest soloist.
Nasibo Mutize is a Zimbabwean multidisciplinary contemporary musician renowned for her mastery of the Mbira. Through her signature performances, she seamlessly blends soulful vocals with the Mbira, captivating audiences with enchanting and soul-stirring experiences. Musically, Nasibo creatively infuses various vocal techniques including Shona yodeling, Ndebele styles, scatting, and influences from diverse African traditions. This fusion results in a unique sound that soothes and uplifts the listener's soul.
Nasibo, who is making a rising international career, is taking big steps towards European festival stages. She already has shared the stage with of African music giants, such as Youssou N'Dour and Habib Koité. During her visit to Finland, Nasibo will hold workshops and visit elementary schools in Espoo. The audience will be able to enjoy the music of this enchanting artist on the closing day of April Jazz, when Nasibo performs with Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble.
The story on Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble dates back to 2009. Finnish guitarist Janne Halonen was obsessed. He couldn’t stop listening to Lionel Loueke, the guitarist in Herbie Hancock’s ensemble. He knew Loueke was from Benin, and had to know what made his music tick.
Before he knew it, his fascination took him to Benin. Travelling to Cotonou, Benin’s most populous city, for the first time in 2009, Janne explains, “I was asking who is The Man? Who should I meet?” Everyone pointed to vocalist and percussionist Noël Saïzonou. “The first time we met we greeted each other like old friends,” remembers Janne. What followed was several years of songwriting sessions as Noël came multiple times to Finland. They learned about each other and crafted their sound. The two connected and the unexpectedly perfect Finn funk meets voodoo rhythms of Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble was born.
More than 15 years later Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble has released 6 albums, performed in 23 countrie. The band has toured major festivals in Canada, played at Afro and jazz festivals in Central Europe, and performed at Sziget in Budapest, Pohoda in Slovakia and world music events in Korea (ACC), Morocco (Visa for Music) and Spain (WOMEX).
Nasibo, vocals, mbira (ZW)
Janne Halonen, guitar, vocals
Noël Saïzonou, percussions, vocals (BJ)
Kasheshi Makena, percussions, vocals (TZ)
Mikko Pettinen, trumpet, vocals
Joakim Berghäll – sax, vocals
Visa Oscar, keys
Sampo Riskilä, bass
Juha Räsänen, drums
Tickets 31/26 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Duration approx. 1 h 15 min, no intermission
April Jazz: Miguel PovedaTapiolasali, espoo26.4. At 18:00
Miguel Poveda
In the course of his career of more than 35 years, Miguel Poveda, one of the best known flamenco artists worldwide, has won and received all sorts of prizes and acknowledgements. These include, amongst others, five Latin Grammy nominations for Best Flamenco Album, the National Music Award (2007), the Chair of Flamencology of Jerez (2008) and the Medal of Andalusia (2012). Poveda has released 14 studio albums, three live albums and a documentary, 13, which focuses on the halfway point of his life after 25 years on stage.
At the magical crossroads of the arts Miguel Poveda embarks, together with the guitarist Jesús Guerrero, on a new musical journey to bring to life the evocative texts of Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Poema del cante jondo”. The two have succeeded in creating one of the best flamenco records of recent years, highlighting more than ever Miguel the singer. At each beat, the album reveals a careful amalgam of the rich heritage of cante jondo and Lorca’s profound poetry. The guitar playing of Jesús Guerrero, adds a unique dimension and a “very flamenco” accompaniment.
“Poema del cante jondo” is not only a musical album but also an intimate encounter with the roots of flamenco and the love each one of its protagonists has put into it during their lifetime through singing, guitar, percussion, clapping and of course poetry.
This fusion of Lorca’s most mundane and flamenco poetry with the expressiveness of the singing and guitar playing of these two artists creates a unique experience in which the emotional intensity of the cante jondo intertwines with Lorca’s profound reflections on the soul of flamenco.
Migel Poveda, vocals (ES)
Jesús Guerrero, flamenco guitar (ES)
Paquito Gonzales, percussions (ES)
Sonia Poveda, dance (ES)
Tickets 59/53 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Duration approx. 1 h 30 min, no intermission
