Jazz Finland Live

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.}

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