Norppa is a fresh jazz ensemble that, in the spirit of the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary year, performs a diverse selection of Finnish compositions from both earlier generations and the band’s own members. Combining tradition and the present day, the group brings together swing, playfulness and a touch of seal-like relaxation.

Norppa also highlights a gem of Finnish-American jazz history by performing When Your Lover Has Gone, composed by Finnish-American musician Einar Swan. The song has been interpreted by legendary artists including Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra.

The ensemble’s trombonist Kasperi Sarikoski has performed with numerous groups both in Finland and abroad and works full-time as Principal Trombone of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. Sonja Kaipainen is a versatile and expressive pianist who leads her own trio and performs, among others, with Timo Kämäräinen’s band. Bassist Ape Anttila is active across the jazz field as a musician, composer, producer and educator, and has played with groups such as the Lenni-Kalle Taipale Group and the cult-favorite Quartet Coyote. Drummer Joonatan Naumanen is an emerging jazz talent who captivated audiences with his performance at the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra & Metropolia New Talents Concert in January 2026.

Kasperi Sarikoski – trombone
Sonja Kaipainen – piano
Ape Anttila – bass
Joonatan Naumanen – drums

This concert is part of the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary program and is included in the Jamiluokka project, a collaborative initiative of the Finnish Jazz Federation, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Music), the Jazz Music Degree Programme of the Sibelius Academy at the University of the Arts Helsinki and the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The project is supported by the Alfred Kordelin Foundation.

_{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