Jazz Finland Live

Harri Sjöström’s Mother’s Delight – Special Guest: Veli Kujala

Jukka Kääriäinen: guitar and effects
Libero Mureddu: keyboards & electronics
Heikki Nikula: bass clarinet
Harri Sjöström: soprano and sopranino saxophones
Veli Kujala: quarter-tone accordion

Mother’s Delight first performed in 2023, and after that initial concert it was immediately clear that the project should continue as a stable, working ensemble. The quartet’s unusual instrumentation brings together two wind instruments — soprano saxophone and bass clarinet — with two electric polyphonic voices: electric guitar and physically modelled piano. This distinctive setup gives rise to a wide and constantly shifting sonic palette: from Sjöström’s complex yet deeply expressive melodic language, to Nikula’s command of Western contemporary music and extended techniques; from Mureddu’s deconstructed and morphing piano textures, to Kääriäinen’s unique ability to merge distorted noise with fragile micro-sounds.

Aesthetically, the music synthesises the overlapping yet distinct backgrounds of the four musicians. The sonic radicalism of Kääriäinen and Sjöström intertwines with resonances of Western contemporary music shaped by Nikula and Mureddu. Beyond stylistic categories, the core of Mother’s Delight lies in its commitment to depth, openness, and a sense of joyful, unpredictable musical discovery.

Internationally renowned accordion virtuoso and composer Veli Kujala will join Mother’s Delight for an exceptional evening. He is a long time collaborator of Harri Sjöström, as member of the Windows and Mirrors project with Giancarlo Schiaffini and Sergio Armaroli, and is regularly invited to perform at the Soundscapes Festivals. Moreover, he frequently performs with Sjöström as a duo. Kujala is as well member of Libero Mureddu’s bands Hexad and Septad.

Photos: Sakari Puhakka

The concert is part of the Jazz in Finland 100 Anniversary.

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.

Open event

The band 100 – Mäkynen/Mannila/Koivistoinen/Antila/Mäensivu, led by drummer Teppo Mäkynen, will perform in 12 cities across Finland. Come and enjoy jazz with the whole family!

To celebrate the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary year, the Finnish Jazz Federation, together with drummer and bandleader Teppo Mäkynen, has assembled a supergroup for a special tour performing new arrangements of gems from Finnish jazz music. The ensemble, made up of representatives from different generations of musicians, incorporates sounds and rhythms from electronic music, R&B and rap into its expression, bringing the history of Finnish jazz into the present day. At the heart of the concert is the joy of making and experiencing music, driven forward by the band’s energetic expression.

Bandleader Teppo Mäkynen is one of Finland’s most respected jazz musicians. He is known for his open-minded and visionary ability to move between different musical styles, and his music has reached a wide new jazz audience. The lineup also features a living legend of Finnish jazz, saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen, international acclaimed bassist Kaisa Mäensivu, and rising stars: singer-keyboardist Maja Mannila and vibraphonist Mikko Antila.

All concerts are open to all ages, and affordable children’s tickets are available. Concerts begin in the early evening on weekdays and in the afternoon on weekends. Most performances last approximately one hour.

100 – Mäkynen/Mannila/Koivistoinen/Antila/Mäensivu

Teppo Mäkynen – drums
Maja Mannila – vocals, keyboards
Eero Koivistoinen – saxophone
Mikko Antila – vibraphone
Kaisa Mäensivu – bass

Open event

Open event