News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Funky Awards, an annual gala for Finnish jazz, funk and related genres, will be here for the 16th time already. In addition to the award ceremony, we will be in for live music from some of Finland’s leading reggae, hip hop and Afro-funk names.
UMO Jazz Orchestra has released the programme for spring 2016. We will be in for a mix of renowned international guests and a few ultra-Finnish numbers. Tickets to all concerts are now available for purchase.
In spring 2016, Helsinki’s restaurant Storyville is to play host to a new club series, Afrojazz Club. Taking place every other Thursday until late May, Afrojazz Club offers danceable Afro styles and world music – live and recorded. In addition to music, Africa is present on the menu, in the decorations and discussion programme.
The new album maps multi-instrumentalist Majamäki’s adventures around the globe. The album-launch show, taking place at Helsinki’s Tavastia, features a host of the album’s guests, including Ismo Alanko, Karri “Paleface” Miettinen, Johanna Kurkela,Stina Koistinen and Linda Fredriksson.
Eero Koivistoinen, one of the pillars of Finnish jazz and composition, turned 70 on 13 January and will, rightly, be spotlighted from many fronts throughout the year. In addition to a string of concerts from the archive broadcast by YLE Teema not long a go, the godfather of Finnish jazz will appear on stage and on a number of reissues.
What is jazz? What is improvisation and inspiration? Classically educated drummer, percussionist Janne Tuomi is a frequent visitor in various jazz occasions, but doesn't want to be labelled a jazz musician.
The 17-piece will release their debut, "Syntymä", in spring 2016 – a collection of pieces that have they have polished to perfection over a period of two years. The crowd-funding campaign will be launched on 22 January on mesenaatti.me. In addition to the regular crew of Sointi Jazz Orchestra, the upcoming album features, among others, vocalist Stina Koistinen of Color Dolor.
The popular Flame Jazz Cruise casts off for the Baltic Sea for the eighth time on Saturday 30 January, seeing six applauded groups take the stages of the ship. Casting off from Turku, the first Flame Jazz Cruise of the year will be dedicated, above all, to drummers. In addition to several Finnish groups led by their drummers, the legendary innovator of drumming, Steve Gadd, honours the concert series with his presence. Gadd will be playing soulful organ jazz with Danes Michael Blicher and Dan Hemmer.
Inspired by Finnish poems, vocalist Mirja Mäkelä’s trio released their new album My Hidden Joys in October 2015. Now the group plays the new material in an album-launch concert as a part of the Rytmihäiriöklubi club series, at Helsinki’s Juttutupa.
The anniversary year sees the Finnish Jazz Federation present a comprehensive history, a star-studded Anniversary Orchestra and a touring art exhibition.
