News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
In this Jazz Finland International series we bring you the people and phenomena around the 2017 jazzahead! trade fair. Finland is the partner country this year and our artists, festivals, projects and companies have a great exposure amongs the international professionals at the fair and festival. Let's take a sneak peek behind the scenes before the bedlam begins on Thursday...
Finnish jazz scene is widely presented in this year’s jazzahead! program, from the official opening and showcases to the trade fair, from Gala concert to the Club Night. The country partnership of Finland kicked off with Kultur aus Finnland, a multifaceted cultural festival taking place in the major cultural institutions of Bremen. Music Finland is gathering all the Finnish delegates under one umbrella, so come and visit us at our cozy stand 6B40, or the sofas of the Partner Country Lounge. Welcome, tervetuloa, willkommen!
Turku Jazz Festival awards a local musician each year for their contribution to local jazz life. This year, the nomination goes to the Turku-born guitarist Vilkka Wahl, who will bring his star-studded quintet to this year’s Turku Jazz Festival to celebrate their debut album.
Master guitarist Raoul Björkenheim releases a new album with his trio Raoul Björkenheim Triad on 21 April. The disc will be released in Germany and central Europe in May.
UMO Jazz Orchestra’s spring season is in full swing – the beat is going up. More treats below.
The Esplanadi Park Stage, just off the Kauppatori market and harbour, will be the backdrop for Finnish Jazz Federation’s traditional open-air concert series, Jazz-Espa on July 24 – August 4. On Saturday, the 5th of August, the two-week extravaganza builds up to a family-friendly mini-festival, Jazzjatkot.
The Finnish Jazz Federation will produce two tours and support two co-produced tours in the spring of 2018. Apply by this electronic form between April 10 and May 8. The Board of the Finnish Jazz Federation will complete the selection process in June.
Combining avant-garde and free jazz, the irrepressible trio PLOP hits the road on a Finnish Jazz Federation-produced tour on 8 - 18 March stopping at Tampere, Joensuu, Mariehamn and Tallinn, among others. Having moved toward a more electric sound on their latest album, they promise to “swing, astound and provoke”.
Finnish-Danish duo Vela releases its first album Wandering on 10 February. The album is filled with musical language that moves fluently from jazz and all the way to experimental classical music. This combination creates a full and versatile atmosphere, loyal to their improvisational touch at concerts.
Launched in 2016, Jazz Finland LIVE, a new support form to boost live jazz in Finland, is to be continued this year. During its pilot period, the grant exceeded all expectations in establishing new concert activity around the country and applications flowed in to participate in this year’s grant scheme. Exceptionally, the Finnish Music Foundation made the decision to give the grant to applicants in two parts this year.
