News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Sanna Ruohoniemi, Finnish jazz vocalist and composer, currently based in Stockholm, is one of the most interesting young generation musicians. Her debut album "Tales of a stranger" (Eclipse Music 2016) was widely acclaimed all over Skandinavian.
For the remainder of the year, Jazz Finland International follows the bands and delegates aiming to the international markets. The article series continues with Aurora Hentunen, who comments their upcoming tour in the Netherlands.
Porvoo Jazz Festival has released its programme. The festival, arranged for the sixth time, is held at WSOY-talo on 28 - 30 September.
The 30th Elojazz presents over 150 musicians during the five-day festival this week. Grande ensembles such as UMO, Timo Lassy Band & Ricky-Tick Big Band Brass, Oulu All Star Big Band and Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra take over the stage this weekend.
Validi Karkia releases the versatile and international 17-night concert programme of this autumn. The season opens on 1 August with internationally distinguished conductor Jukka Iisakkila, this time in electric guitar. The Breed explores the composition material of Pekka Pohjola. In addition to Iisakkila, the ensemble consists of Aki Lääkkölä, Jaan Wessman, Niko Ronimus and Ville Ojanen.
Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jarmo Saari’s band Republic releases a new EP, Helsinki mavericks, on 13 July. Helsinki mavericks is the ensemble’s first release on the German Membran record label. The band performs a record release concert at the Pori Jazz on 19 July.
Flame Jazz and Turku Jazz Orchestra treat jazz lovers to international concerts throughout the autumn. The programme features magnificent Swedish vocalists, protection of the Baltic Sea, chess, young talents, commissioned composition for big band and much more.
The seven episodes of the second season were filmed during the soundchecks at Helsinki We Jazz festival in December 2017. The first episode released today presents the band Black Motor. The new episodes were directed and shot by Petri Luukkainen.
The 31st Baltic Jazz festival is held at Taalintehdas by the Archipelago Sea from 6 to 8 July. Traditionally, the festival makes a false start at Kasnäs on Thursday 5 July. The festival offers 23 different show numbers, with nearly 200 artists. The festival weekend is being prepared by 15 team leaders and over 100 volunteers.
Next spring will see six hardcore bands tour the country under the Jazz Finland flag. Among the ensembles we have veterans and newcomers, from rock to art music, and all the other colors of the jazz rainbow. Jazz Finland is the main producer or supporter of these five tours. One of the productions is again the French-Finnish double bill Free Voices And Sounds.
