News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Drummer-pianist-producer Jussi Fredriksson's (b. 1980) and legendary vibesman Severi Pyysalo (b. 1967) lead their sextet on its way to spread the gospel of Turku-jazz around the country. Flame Jazz Messengers tour Finland, throwing six concerts both on land and at sea.
Ami Vuorinen, the Executive Director of Jazz Finland, opened the 18th edition of the annual Jazz-Espa concert series yesterday, July 24th, in the heart of Helsinki, Esplanadi Park. In his opening words Vuorinen described the festival as an umbrella for Finnish jazz in all its forms and shapes.
Tuesday 25 July sees two hot young groups give their best at Jyväskylä’s legendary jazz venue, Poppari, the home of Summer Jazz Club concert series. Aurora Hentunen Quartet and OK:KO, the stars of the July edition, comprise up-and-coming Finnish jazz musicians who have directed their gaze to the international scene at an early stage of their careers. Now, these two constellations will present international flavours from the metropoles of the big world for the Jyväskylä audience.
The regenerated Lahden Jazztori Festival spreads to different locations this September. Lahti Big Band continues to hold the rights of the festival.
The summery jazz concert series curated by We Jazz presents four young acts on the coastal island Lonna this July. JAF Trio, Maxxxtet and Bowman Trio play live on three July Wednesdays respectively and the stage will be warmed up by the We Jazz DJ collective.
Saxophonist Mikko Innanen, the Flame Jazz Artist of 2017, blows his horn for the conservation of the Baltic Sea, floating amid the eider statues by artist Reima Nurmikko on Turku’s Aura River on 20 - 22 July. The same weekend will see PLOP, composed of Innanen, bassist Ville Herrala and drummer Joonas Riippa, take the stage at the nearby Bar Ö.
The autumn programme 2017 sees more music shows than ever before on the Tampere Työväen Teatteri stage. We will also be in for several album launch concerts.
Funky Elephant will see Omar, the father of British neo soul and Hugo Mendez, the frontman of the collective Sofrito hit the stage at Helsinki’s Suvilahti in September. Soul star Nicole Willis will also present her new outfit.
Pianist Joonas Haavisto has been selected among the artists to represent the world-famous piano brand Steinway. The title aims at acknowledging high-class pianists and improving their working conditions and giving boost to their careers. Haavisto is the first Finnish jazz pianist to receive the title, joining such celebrated colleagues as Vladimir Horowitz, Artur Rubinstein, Lang Lang, Keith Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal, Brad Mehldau sekä Robert Glasper.
This jazz quartet led by saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen and starring the internationally acclaimed trumpeter Verneri Pohjola will celebrate its debut album at one of the main concerts of the Pori Jazz Festival 2017 on 14 July.
