New additions to the programme and the concert schedule will be released throughout Spring.
US banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck will present his new trio at Kirjurinluoto this summer. Béla Fleck is the 18th winner of the prestigious Grammy Award, the most recent of which was awarded in February this year. He has been nominated in more categories than anyone else. Béla Fleck has a total of 46. Grammy nominations.
In the summer, Tower of Power, a band known for its soulful, hard-hitting horn funk, will be heard at Kirjurinluoto, with founders Stephen ”Doc” Kupka and Emilio Castillo still around to keep the band on the beat. Pori Jazz will also feature Californian band Thee Sacred Souls, whose music is reminiscent of the golden age of Motown soul in the 1960s/70s. Bassist Sal Samano, drummer Alex Garcia and singer Josh Lane have also been influenced by Chicano soul, gospel and doo-wop.
Memphis Soul’s true legends are brought to the festival by Take Me To The River – Memphis Soul All-Stars Revue. The brightest star of this illustrious group is singer Carla Thomas, known as the Queen of Memphis Soul. In addition to her own hits, she has sung duets with Otis Redding and her father Rufus Thomas, among others. The line-up also includes musicians who immersed themselves in the studio sessions of the Hi Records label. Among those coming to Pori are organist Charles Hodges, bassist Leroy ”Flic” Hodges and keyboardist Archie ”Hubbie” Turner.
New jazz names on the Lokkilava at Kirjurinluoto include saxophonist Isaiah Collier, whose music is strongly inspired by the spiritual jazz of jazz legend John Coltrane. On the same stage, Finnish pianist Alexi Tuomarila will perform music from his new album Departing the Wasteland. The modern melodic jazz of Tuomarila’s trio will be reinforced by Portuguese guitarist André Fernandes. Also performing on the stage will be Mongolian singer Enji. His music moves smoothly between jazz and folk song.
London duo Franc Moody’s music combines soul-funk disco and dance-pop. The duo’s new single Space Between Us is topping the charts in Europe. Local pop/rock from Litku Klemetti will also be heard at Kirjurinluoto.
Joanne Shaw Taylor and Elles Bailey will perform on the opening day of Pori Jazz’s Kirjurinluoto concerts (Thu 17.7). Both have a strong blues and blues-rock background. Guitarist and singer Joanne Shaw Taylor is known for her beautifully rosy vocals. Pianist and singer Elles Bailey’s blues-rock also has soul and country tones.
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castaneda & Antonio Sanchez-trio © Pori Jazz