Hatka is a transatlantic free-jazz trio where three seasoned improvisers operate as one listening organism: Darin Gray, Janne Tuomi, and Alan Wilkinson.

Open event

Free entry

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Jazz for Kids concerts welcome everyone from babies to grandparents! Professional musicians perform their own work at a child-friendly volume in the lobby.

Nikita Rafaelov is a Helsinki-based keyboardist, producer and composer who has established himself at the forefront of Finnish jazz and experimental music. He has performed at events such as Pori Jazz, the Oulu Music Festival and Flow Festival. At the Jazz for Kids concert at Vuosaari House, Rafaelov performs tracks from his solo album Heart Does What Heart Wants, released in autumn 2024, as well as other new and older material. Using a piano, a synthesiser, a sampler and a computer, he takes his audience on a journey through the worlds of electroacoustic jazz, ambient and lo-fi hip-hop.

The duration of the event is 45 min. The artist will perform for roughly 35 minutes, after which the audience can meet the musician and see the instruments used.

Free admission!

Nikita Rafaelov – piano, synthesiser and sampler

The Jazz for Kids operating model of the Finnish Jazz Federation and City of Helsinki Cultural Centres is based on the concert series of the same name, which has been organised at the Espoo Cultural Centre since 2015 in cooperation with Espoo Music Institute’s pop/jazz line Ebeli. The concept was developed by Ebeli, the pop/jazz line at Espoo Music Institute.

Open event

Mikko Antila Sinetti launches Flame Jazz’s autumn season with the release concert of its debut album Sinetti. Led by vibraphonist and composer Mikko Antila, the quintet blends memorable melodies, earthy grooves and subtle interplay into a distinctive sound shaped by vibraphone, clarinet, acoustic guitar, double bass and drums. Drawing influences from Finnish folk music, Americana and the rich tradition of Black American music, the band creates music that is both fresh and deeply rooted. Antila is one of Finland’s most in-demand young jazz musicians, celebrated for his soulful expression, versatility and engaging stage presence.

Open event

Tickets 119€ (includes concert + 4-course menu)

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Tickets 29,50/22,50 €

The top name of Finnish jazz, Jukka Perko who learned the ropes in Dizzy Gillespie's orchestra, returns to the swing era in a set that contains evergreen tunes sung in Finnish and played in English! The soloist is Jay Kortehisto known from many popular Finnish groups, including Jean S., Ricky Tick Big Band and Sunrise Avenue.

In this jazz band of a traditional composition Perko and Kortehisto, accompanied by a trio of piano, bass and percussions, create an edgy swing. They will offer the much-in-demand type of old time jazz played with a traditional recipe, joyfully and perhaps even a bit tongue in cheek!

Duration 1 h 40 min, incl. intermission

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Please note! The concert will be held in the Savoy Theatre from 12 noon to 1 pm. The admission is free, but we recommend booking in advance at the Savoy Theatre box office (0 €) or Lippu.fi (3 € commission). Max. 2 tickets per customer. For larger group bookings, please contact the Savoy Theatre. Admission only with pre-booked tickets until 11.50 am, after which remaining seats will be released to customers without a pre-booking. Please arrive early as the doors will be closed once the concert has started. The duration of the concert is 1 hour.

Classic musical hits and jazz frenzy! Echoes of Broadway is jazz singer Elena Mîndru's doctoral concert, in which Broadway classics come to life as interpreted by a large jazz orchestra. For Mîndru, who is completing her doctoral degree in Arts at the Sibelius Academy, the concert with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra is the final artistic component of her degree.

In this concert, beloved Broadway classics are brought to life as new big band arrangements by Artturi Rönkä and Sampo Kasurinen. The conductor is Ville Vannemaa, the new chief conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Duration approx. 75 min, no intermission.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

Dimitri Grechi Espinoza, the acclaimed Italian saxophonist and composer, brings his deeply meditative interpretation of John Coltrane's legendary work A Love Supreme to Kerava Church. Espinoza's project, Meditation On A Love Supreme, has attracted widespread attention within the Italian jazz community as a spiritual concert experience designed specifically for sacred spaces, offering fresh perspectives on the mystical core of Coltrane's music.

In collaboration with Espinoza, jazz pastor Markku Salo has assembled a quartet for the Finnish performances that reflects both the sonic landscape of the original work and the new arrangement. In Kerava, Espinoza and Salo will be joined by Finnish jazz legend Juhani Aaltonen and guitarist Tapio Ylinen. Together, they create a new Finnish–Italian encounter around Coltrane's masterpiece, where improvisation, poetry, and silence merge into a unified musical expression. This is not a conventional tribute concert, but rather an act of "hearing anew" — an attempt to reconnect with the spiritual essence of Coltrane's music.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 30 €, members 25 €, students 15 €

The compositions heard in Joakim Berghäll and Adele Sauros’ duo concert originate from a solo improvisation played by Berghäll in a single sitting, inspired by anti-war poems written in various conflict areas around the world. The melodic ideas of the compositions were written down as they were, without changing a single sound, remaining faithful to the impulses of the improvisation. Berghäll and Sauros recorded the result in the Kamppi Chapel, giving rise to the Runoja Rauhalle album, which, particularly in the present moment, serves as a beautiful and necessary reminder of humanity and community.

T.I.M. is a trio assembled by French pianist Sébastien Palis, featuring Norwegian musicians Karoline Wallace and Inger Hannisdal. The group’s fascinating minimalism, combining piano, human voice and electroacoustic elements, moves on the boundary between folk music and improvisation, alternating between light and shadow and blending acoustic expression with DIY electronics. The stories in the songs reflect diverse narrative styles, including the perspective of a child, multigenerational deep memories and old folk rhymes. The acclaimed Hungarian record label BMC will release T.I.M.’s debut album, Tall, Infinite, Microscopic, in September 2026. T.I.M. performs as a duo consisting of Sébastien Palis and Inger Hannisdal in Salo on 5 September and at a house concert in Rajamäki on 6 September, and as a trio at the other concerts on the tour.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Classic musical hits and jazz frenzy! Echoes of Broadway is jazz singer Elena Mîndru's doctoral concert, in which Broadway classics come to life as interpreted by a large jazz orchestra. For Mîndru, who is completing her doctoral degree in Arts at the Sibelius Academy, the concert with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra is the final artistic component of her degree.

In this concert, beloved Broadway classics are brought to life as new big band arrangements by Artturi Rönkä and Sampo Kasurinen. The conductor is Ville Vannemaa, the new chief conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Duration approx. 75 min, no intermission.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

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Tickets 22 €

This autumn, producer Charles Gil’s Vapaat äänet, celebrating its 30th anniversary, presents two ensembles in a concert at Kouta Hall. Runoja rauhalle – Poems for Peace is an emotional and meditative manifesto for peace by two saxophonists, Joakim Berghäll and Adele Sauros. T.I.M., formed through Norwegian-French collaboration, creates fascinating experimental music in the spirit of folk traditions. This tour is the 38th co-production between Vapaat äänet and the Finnish Jazz Federation, continuing a collaboration that began in 1996.

Joakim Berghäll & Adele Sauros: Poems for Peace
The compositions performed in the duo concert by Joakim Berghäll and Adele Sauros originate from a single-session solo improvisation by Berghäll. The catalyst for this process was a collection of anti-war poems written in various crisis areas around the world, which influenced the music in an abstract way. The melodic ideas were transcribed exactly as they emerged, without altering a single note, remaining faithful to the impulses of the improvisation. Berghäll and Sauros recorded the material in the Kamppi Chapel, resulting in the album Runoja rauhalle – Poems for Peace.

Adele Sauros – tenor and soprano saxophone
Joakim Berghäll – baritone saxophone, cello

T.I.M.
T.I.M. is a trio assembled by French pianist Sébastien Palis, together with Norwegian singer Karoline Wallace and violinist Inger Hannisdal. The group’s captivating minimalism moves along the borders of folk music and improvisation, alternating between light and shadow while blending acoustic expression with DIY electronics. The stories in their songs emerge through a childlike perspective, instinctive memories, or even an ancient Inuit lullaby. The Hungarian label BMC will release T.I.M.’s debut album Tall, Infinite, Microscopic in September 2026.

Karoline Wallace – vocals, tapes
Inger Hannisdal Hardinger – violin, vocals
Sébastien Palis – piano, synthesizer, composition

Tour co-production: Vapaat äänet & Finnish Jazz Federation
Supported by: AJC, CNV, Institut Français

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

Jorma Tapio & Kaski is an internationally acclaimed Finnish free jazz ensemble whose music combines melodic expression, powerful energy, and free improvisation. The group is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special tour. Over the years, its music has evolved in an increasingly spiritual direction, where Finnish folk influences, meditative elements, and new compositions come together to form a distinctive musical whole. At the heart of the ensemble's artistic approach are sound, the energy of collective interplay, and musical nuance—a living, spontaneous expression in which every performance becomes a unique experience.

The strong artistic vision of Jorma Tapio is evident in every aspect of the group's work. Their music reflects the influence of the melodic free jazz of the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the legacy of Finnish free jazz pioneers such as Edward Vesala and Juhani Aaltonen. At the same time, the ensemble has developed a wholly distinctive and recognizable sound of its own within the landscape of Finnish avant-garde jazz.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Free entry

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Free entry

As part of the festival, Kerava Jazz also organizes its traditional jam session, where visiting musicians immerse themselves in the world of jazz standards. The house band is led by guitarist Lasse Keso, who also serves as the jam host.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 30€

Taste of Life is a vibrant, life-affirming, and swinging concert experience that takes the audience on a journey through the different stages of human life—from its sweet, salty, bitter, and sour moments to the rich umami shades that ultimately bring them all together. The music comes from some of the greatest stars of our time, including Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, and many others whose songs emerged from pivotal moments in life and have left a lasting mark on culture.

The narrative of the concert is built around beloved and timeless songs. Each piece opens a window onto moments when the world changes—or when a person is transformed. The songs speak of love, loss, hope, courage, and the way music helps us endure difficult times. They were born out of moments when society shifted in a new direction or when an individual experienced something that changed everything. Taste of Life is a concert experience truly worth savoring. It is an evening of music, stories, and atmosphere that both moves and entertains, leaving the audience with memories that linger long after the final note has faded.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Tickets 30€, main concert pass 45€

A concert featuring the bands of two jazz musicians who each follow their own distinctive path:

Aurora Hentunen is a highly respected and versatile pianist-composer. Her ensemble, Aurora Hentunen Quintet, operates at the intersection of modern Nordic jazz, ambient music, and electronic soundscapes. The quintet's music blends acoustic and electronic textures with influences from Nordic jazz and pop-ambient production, creating a melodically rich and cinematic expression.

Selma Savolainen is a singer-composer known for her bold and distinctive artistic voice. Her music merges modern jazz, alternative singer-songwriter traditions, and experimental sonic landscapes into an intense and deeply narrative whole. Savolainen, an Emma Award–winning artist, has been praised for her unique sound, powerful emotional expression, and ability to move effortlessly from delicate whispers to explosive climaxes.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 30€, main concert pass 45€

Marthe Lea unquestionably belongs among the very top tier of Norwegian saxophonists. Her playing simultaneously conveys Nordic sensitivity, the naturalness of folk music, and the boldness of free improvisation.

Her ensemble, Marthe Lea Band, is known for its energetic, ritualistic, and deeply atmospheric expression. The group's strength lies in its collective improvisation and open approach to music-making. In the band's music, jazz, folk traditions, and free improvisation merge in a distinctive way, ranging from the calm expanses of folk melodies to powerful rhythmic free-jazz outbursts.

Marthe Lea Band is particularly renowned for its intense live performances and has appeared at numerous international jazz festivals. At Jazzfest Berlin, their music was described as "an exuberant firework display of African and Scandinavian influences." The band has previously performed in Finland at We Jazz Festival in 2022 and at Odysseus Festival in 2023.

Marthe Lea - tenor saxophone, flutes
Hans Hulbækmo - drums
Hans P. Kjorstad - violin
Egil Kalman - double bass
Andreas Røysum - clarinets, flutes

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Standard ticket 20 €

The charming and melodic guitarist-composer from Italy, Lorenzo Cominoli, is coming to Kokkola for his first visit! Lorenzo will perform together with the Kokkola based musicians, Eevalotta Matikainen and Martin Söderbacka. The concert promises delicate ensemble playing and the soft sound of guitars, as we hear the performers' own beautiful compositions and a couple of arranged jazz standards.

Lorenzo Cominoli (ITA) – guitar
Martin Söderbacka – guitar
Eevalotta Matikainen – double bass

Open event

Classic musical hits and jazz frenzy! Echoes of Broadway is jazz singer Elena Mîndru's doctoral concert, in which Broadway classics come to life as interpreted by a large jazz orchestra. For Mîndru, who is completing her doctoral degree in Arts at the Sibelius Academy, the concert with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra is the final artistic component of her degree.

In this concert, beloved Broadway classics are brought to life as new big band arrangements by Artturi Rönkä and Sampo Kasurinen. The conductor is Ville Vannemaa, the new chief conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Duration approx. 75 min, no intermission.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

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Free entry

Founded in 2021, the Aleksis Liukko Trio performs compositions by pianist Aleksis Liukko from their second album, Wicket Valley, due for release in autumn 2026. The trio has toured extensively across Finland and released their debut album, The Sonic Sessions, in 2022.

Originally from Kuopio and now based in Helsinki, Liukko graduated with a Master of Music degree from the University of Gothenburg in 2019. He has also been a member of the Sointi Jazz Orchestra since its foundation. The trio features two of Finland's leading musicians of their generation: bassist Mikael Saastamoinen (Perussastamala, Katu Kaiku, Linda Fredriksson, among others) and drummer Okko Saastamoinen (OK, SIR GARRISON, Arppa, among others).

Together, the three musicians create a powerful sense of interplay and natural musical communication. The African American musical tradition can be heard throughout their music, while their masterful approach to improvisation creates energetic, Nordic and vividly colourful atmospheres.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

Jarmo Saari (b. 1970) is one of the most distinctive guitarists of his generation. Having performed in more than thirty countries and appeared on over one hundred albums, the musician-composer was awarded the Finland Prize in 2012 in recognition of his artistic achievements. He is renowned for the highly visual compositional style that characterizes his work for concerts, films, television, choreography, theatre productions, and recordings, as well as for his richly layered musical collages created with electric guitar, the human voice, and a variety of unusual instruments, including the theremin, Baroque cello, and glass harp.

Jarmo Saari Solu is Saari's experimental one-man project that sounds like a complete orchestra. A pioneer of live looping, he has performed as a solo artist both in Finland and internationally, with appearances extending as far as Japan.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Tickets. 15/10 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets. 20/15 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Free entry

Open event

Tickets. 15/10 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets. 15/10 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Tickets 25,50 €

This autumn, British guitarist, Tom Ollendorff, embarks on a major European tour showcasing the artistry that has established him as one of the most compelling young voices in contemporary jazz. Renowned for his distinctive guitar sound, melodic imagination, and emotional depth, Ollendorff continues to captivate audiences with music that is both accessible and richly rewarding. Joining him on this concert at ELive Jazz in Kokkola are two of the most sought-after musicians on the European jazz scene, drummer David Ingamells and bassist Viktor Nyberg.

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UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will perform in Nurmijärvi with the boundary-breaking guitar virtuoso Timo Kämäräinen as guest soloist. Be prepared for great contrasts, surprising twists and captivating musical dialogue!

The duration is about 75 minutes, without interval. No age limit.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Jaska Lukkarinen & Turku Jazz Orchestra: Rainbow Blue

Drummer Jaska Lukkarinen explores the possibilities of jazz drumming within a big band setting, focusing on the idea of “soloistic accompaniment.” Rather than serving only as a rhythmic foundation, the drums become an active part of the orchestra’s sound and musical dialogue.

The music is composed by conductor Mikko Hassinen in close collaboration with Lukkarinen, originating from Lukkarinen’s doctoral project. The result is vibrant and swinging big band jazz, combining the dynamic range of small ensembles with the rich sound of a full orchestra.

***

Trumslagaren Jaska Lukkarinen utforskar i denna konsert jazztrummornas möjligheter inom ett storbandsformat, med särskilt fokus på idén om solistiskt ackompanjemang. Trummorna fungerar inte enbart som rytmisk grund, utan som en aktiv del av orkesterns klang och musikaliska dialog.

Musiken är komponerad av dirigenten Mikko Hassinen i nära samarbete med Lukkarinen, och har sitt ursprung i Lukkarinens konstnärliga doktorandprojekt. Resultatet är svängig och färgstark big band-jazz där smågruppens dynamik möter storbandets rika ljudvärld.

Open event

What is the UMO Club? The UMO Club is a different way to experience UMO. The intimate space of the Black Box brings the musicians closer to the audience and the audience closer to the music. The atmosphere is more relaxed, more intimate, and closer to a club gig than a traditional concert.

Sparkling September Club! The focal point of the evening is the saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor Ville Vannemaa, newly appointed chief conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The programme is planned and conducted by Vannemaa, with the boundary-breaking guitar virtuoso Timo Kämäräinen as guest soloist. For this evening, Vannemaa has curated a narrative programme during which UMO with guests present their best. Be prepared for great contrasts, surprising twists and captivating musical dialogue. When UMO's tight swing meets Kämäräinen's electric guitarism, the result is an evening that leaves no one cold!

Please note: The venue is configured as a club, meaning that most of the venue is standing room. In addition, there is a very limited number of unnumbered seats in the hall.

The duration is about 75 minutes, without interval. No age limit.

In addition to concert-specific tickets, you can also buy a serial ticket covering the three club evenings of the autumn season.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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The joint Jazz for Kids initiative by the Finnish Jazz Federation and Helsinki Cultural Centres increases children’s opportunities to engage with jazz culture across different parts of Helsinki. At the free-admission concerts, professional musicians perform their own music at a child-friendly volume level in easily accessible cultural centre venues. Performing either solo or as duos, the musicians will talk with the audience at the end of each event and introduce their instruments.

Joakim Berghäll & Adele Sauros is a duo of two saxophonists who have performed at events including Viapori Jazz, We Jazz Festival, as well as in Germany and Austria. The concert will feature music from the duo’s debut album Runoja rauhalle (“Poems for Peace”) as well as previews from their upcoming album. The music on Runoja rauhalle is based on poems by writers living in crisis regions around the world. Berghäll improvised freely on the material for a couple of hours, after which he condensed and refined the music into six compositions.

Adele Sauros – tenor and soprano saxophone
Joakim Berghäll – baritone saxophone and cello

Free admission!

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets. 15/10 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 15€ / 10€

Pori Jazz 2023 Artist of the Year Tuomo Uusitalo is an internationally awarded jazz pianist who has been active in New York since 2012, and whose life path has brought him back to Helsinki after years abroad. Uusitalo's career has already been extensive and his list of merits includes performances with several legendary bands and musicians, such as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Hart, Chris Cheek, Seamus Blake, Justin Brown, to name a few.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Savonlinna Big Band celebrates Jazz Suomi's 100th anniversary! In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically landed in Finland with the ship Andania. Founded in 1925, Dallapé is Finland's most significant and Europe's oldest continuously operating entertainment orchestra. Dallapé has made countless songs by Finnish songwriters evergreen and brought the international top hits of their time to the domestic audience.

Now these hits can be heard in Savonlinna Hall as wonderful Big Band arrangements interpreted by Dallapé soloists. Dallapé guests include singer Juha Hostikka, trumpeter Tero Lindberg and accordionist Jukka Ojala.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets. 15/10 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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Free entry

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Tickets 24,80 € / 20 €

Timo Lassy and Niko Kumpuvaara's jazz is characterised by world music and sensitivity. The concert is part of the Jazz in Finland 100 centenary celebrations.

The acoustic duo of Timo Lassy and Niko Kumpuvaara brings out the rich hues of the saxophone and the accordion in an intimate manner. The duo's playing incorporates jazz and world music influences with the sensitive expression of chamber music. In addition to their own compositions, their repertoire includes music by Egberto Gismonti, Astor Piazzolla and Pat Metheny.

Composer and saxophonist Timo Lassy is one of Finland's best-known jazz musicians with a strong international career. Lassy first came to the public's attention as a member of The Five Corners Quintet, and he has since performed at some of Finland's most prestigious venues and released several albums.

The other half of the duo, Niko Kumpuvaara, is a versatile and innovative accordionist who has performed both contemporary classical and popular music. He has premiered works by Finnish composers and has played with acts such as the Dallapé orchestra and the Comics in Concert ensemble, which combines comic art and music.

Duration: 75 minutes, no intermission.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

Many people have come to know Pikku Papu's songs from Yle TV2's *Pikku Kakkonen* and From the Musarullaa concert series. The concert will feature alphabet songs and orchestral classics. At the Pikku Papu Orchestra's concert, even the youngest members of the family can join in on the singing and games. Cheering and dancing are also allowed—and even encouraged!

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

The year 2026 marks 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland aboard the Andania ship. Cultural journalist Veli-Matti Henttonen tells stories supported by music samples to lead listeners to the origins of a hundred-year jazz history, focusing on Finnish music from the 1920s to the 1940s. Alto saxophonist Oona Mattsson and pianist Andrea Martin, on the other hand, bring a breath of fresh air from the American jazz tradition of the period.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 20 €

Based in New York, American organ-jazz legend Brian Charette is touring the Nordic countries this autumn alongside guitarist Mathias Sandberg and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. Organist and pianist Brian Charette has firmly established his status as a leading voice in modern jazz. With more than 20 albums released under his own name, the musician boasts a breathtaking list of collaborators.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

Open event

Tickets. 25/20 €. Support ticket 30 €.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

Founded in 2012 by multi-instrumentalist Jarkko “Jargeli” Niemelä (of Jaakko Laitinen & Väärä Raha, Alamaailman Vasarat, Celenka, and others), Jargoslavia has even achieved cult status, known for its wild live shows and its crazy way of blending musical traditions from the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa with explosive prog-jazz and funk. In the band’s music, complex time signatures and skillful instrumental pieces meet lyrics in Finnish and the Sámi dialect, which explore life in the mythical Federal Republic of Jargoslavia, nature, injustice, and having fun. The band released its debut album *Jargoslavia*in 2017.

Danish pianist Rasmus Sørensen In recent years, he has gained international recognition for his innovative yet accessible musical expression, both as a musician and as a composer. During his five years in New York, he became one of the city’s most sought-after jazz pianists. In 2023, he moved to Copenhagen, where he is currently involved in various projects, primarily with his own trio.

The concert in Porvoo marks the first time Rasmus will perform his music in Finland. He will be joined on stage by a renowned Swedish bassist and longtime collaborator Jon Henriksson and the brilliant Norwegian drummer Steinar Heide Bø, who also plays on Rasmus’s upcoming album *You Live and You Learn*. The album is scheduled for release in November 2026.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 15/10/5 €, at the door 20 €

Antti Kujanpää is known as a versatile pianist and keyboardist whose influence can be heard in numerous Finnish productions, ranging from jazz to film music. Having served for many years as the pianist for Yona, among other groups, Kujanpää is accustomed to making music collaboratively — Afterimage (Kuu Records, 2026) is the first step toward finding her own voice: solo piano and synthesizers, minimalist music in which space and silence carry just as much weight as sound. The album’s tracks navigate the space between improvisation and carefully composed material.

The Porvoo Jazz Festival performance will take place alongside Martti Vilminko’s Porvoo Jazz-themed photography exhibition at the Porvoo Art Hall. The concert serves as the release concert for the new album.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 18 € - 29 €

Kanvas is a jazz group whose expression is strongly tinted by pop music influences. The result is an entity that is as well as approachable, also artistically ambitious. Kanvas has risen as an exciting lineup on the Finnish scene, with output that moves effortlessly along the boundaries of multiple genres.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 18 € - 29 €

Veikka Kajamies 4 People is an energetic quartet of young Finnish jazz stars. The band's bold, seamlessly tight ensemble playing sweeps the listener away through original compositions painted with a broad brush, as well as innovatively arranged covers. Powerful rhythmic concepts and grooves, grand contrasts, and a deep knowledge of the jazz tradition form the foundation of the musical language of the Taimi Award-winning, Turku-based drummer Veikka Kajamies.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 10-17 €

The music of the duo featuring saxophonist and flutist Ilmari Rönkä and vibraphonist Mikko Antila is chamber-style jazz that leaves room for color and nuance. The duo’s repertoire consists of compositions by Röngän and Antila that make the most of the duo’s sound. The warm harmony of the flute, saxophone, and vibraphone, the duo’s musical interplay, and their rhythmic energy keep the audience captivated.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 15 € - 25 €

Punomo is an eight-piece soul band whose unique vintage sound effortlessly and movingly weaves the aesthetics of soul and funk music together with Finnish lyrics. Punomo's musical world exudes timelessness, hope, and the healing power of music. Live on stage, the impressive eight-member lineup has captivated wide audiences no matter the age or genre, with their playful, life-affirming energy.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 15 € - 25 €

Based in New York, American organ-jazz legend Brian Charette is touring the Nordic countries this autumn alongside guitarist Mathias Sandberg and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. Organist and pianist Brian Charette has firmly established his status as a leading voice in modern jazz. With more than 20 albums released under his own name, the musician boasts a breathtaking list of collaborators.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 15 € - 25 €

Austrian pianist David Helbock enchants his audience with his projects at festivals across all continents. In his latest project, Helbock collaborates with the versatile Viennese electric bassist and cellist Julia Hofer. The concert features a fascinating blend of calm, dreamy original compositions and groovy jazz tunes, showcasing Helbock and Hofer's distinctive styles.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Free entry

The music of the Ida Alanen Trio draws inspiration from visual shapes, organic textures, and dream imagery. The trio interprets Alanen's compositions masterfully, effortlessly playing within the space between meticulously orchestrated compositions and free improvisation. Based in Amsterdam, pianist-composer Ida Alanen possesses a personal style as both a writer and improviser with influences from a wide range of musical genres, including minimalism, 20th-century composers, and folk music.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Tickets 30 €, members 25 €, students 15 €

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Open event

Free entry

Monthly Guitar Sessions return to Restaurant Villa Rana on 25 August and will continue on the last Tuesday of each month throughout the autumn. Featuring free admission, the evenings are hosted by Jyväskylä-based guitarist Tuomas Paukku. The program spans a wide musical spectrum, from jazz standards and classical miniatures to guitar interpretations of popular songs, as well as Paukku's own compositions, improvisations and musical experiments. Restaurant Villa Rana will operate normally during the performances.

One of Finland's most active jazz guitarists, Paukku is known for his versatility as a performer, composer and bandleader. His current projects include the contemporary jazz quartet Tuomas Paukku Scription and the cross-generational Jazz Jkl Collective. His music has been released on four albums, most recently the solo guitar recording Peaces (2025).

Autumn Guitar Sessions at Restaurant Villa Rana: Tue 25 Aug, 6 pm Tue 29 Sep, 6 pm Tue 27 Oct, 6 pm Tue 24 Nov, 6 pm.

Open event

Open event

Tickets 25/17,50 €

Vapaat äänet agency, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this autumn, will bring to Sello Hall the fresh ALIBI trio of French pianist Pierre-François Blanchard. The first performer of the evening will be accordionist Veli Kujala with his exploration of the world of French chanson in his unique style.

Pierre-François Blanchard, who shone in the Poetic Ways group in April Jazz 2025, has built himself a reputation in France as a sensitive and soulful pianist. He became known in 2015 not only for his duo with singer Marion Rampal but also as accompanist to well-established singer and songwriter Pierre Barouhn. The sax legend Archie Shepp was also charmed by Blanchard's blues and invited him to play with his quartet in 2017. Blanchard published his debut album, #puzzled, as a duo with clarinettist Thomas Savy. It received the best jazz album award in France in 2024, and the duo has since been busy touring in Europe and Japan.

ALIBI, the pianist's recently established trio, continues the success story of the #puzzled duo with the addition of young cellist Adèle Viret. Viret, whose career is going from strength to strength, received the Victoire du Jazz award as the new entrant in 2025. Thomas Savy, an experienced musician, is the veteran in the band. These brilliant instrumentalists and creative artists representing three generations will perform music composed by Blanchard. The partners in crime in the enchanting ALIBI band will take us on a poetic journey to the heart of music.

"Veli Kujala is an exceptional musician, whatever way you measure it. When I first met young Veli, I knew straight away that he was an excellent accordionist, a first-class talent," says composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä.

Kujala, who completed his doctorate in music in 2010, has received a number of prizes in international competitions both as an accordionist and composer. His versatile compositions range from electro acoustic works to orchestral pieces, and he has performed with numerous orchestras. In May 2022, a performance in Hamlet by Brett Dean, an Australian composer, at New York Metropolitan Opera was added to his already impressive CV. However, this wizard of the accordion who has played with the Gourmet sextet since 1997 has also always remained open to jazz, improvisation and popular music.

Veli Kujala, who played the opening tunes at Juliette Gréco's concert in Huvilateltta in 2008, and his accordion will now treat the audience to masterly interpretations of chanson repertoire evergreens with a jazzy twist in Sello Hall.

Tour production: Vapaat äänet & Rivières souterraines
With support from: AJC, Adami, CNM, Spedidam
Partner: French Institute in Finland

Duration 2 h, incl. intermission

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Open event

Free entry

RSB – Roamin’ Street Band is an 11‑musician, two‑vocalist supergroup from the Pirkanmaa region, bringing the authentic jazz energy of the streets of New Orleans to events. The band’s captivating second-line street beat and swinging, cheerful sound sweep along even those audiences for whom jazz or blues wouldn’t normally be the first choice. At RSB’s shows, no one is left cold – get ready for a mood that will make your feet start dancing! 

RSB has created a recurring event in Tampere called Gumbo Club, where the band performs once a month for free at the Public House Huurre restaurant. On club nights, the venue serves spicy gumbo typical of the Mississippi Delta region, and local dancers take the floor with Lindy Hop and other dances that perfectly match the music.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event

Get ready for a truly unique experience as the fearless, genre-defying visionary Becca Stevens joins forces with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra in these three concerts!

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Becca Stevens is a musical powerhouse. In her hands, folk, indie-pop, and jazz harmonies intertwine into a magical and hypnotic whole. Stevens' intimate compositions and layered rhythms will come to life like never before, reimagined through vibrant big band arrangements tailored specifically for this concert series and brought to the stage by UMO's masterful interpretation. Whether you are a passionate jazz enthusiast, a fan of indie-folk, or a seeker of larger-than-life musical experiences, this is a night you don't want to miss!

Conducted by Teemu Takanen.

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

Open event