News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
The best of last year's Finnish funk, soul, jazz reggae, hip hop, afro and groove was awarded in the traditional Funky Awards Gala on Saturday 30 January at Helsinki’s Ravintola Pressa. The two biggest winners of 2015 were hip hop artists Asa and Paperi T.
Helsinki-based concert producer Charles Gil will be made Chevalier of the French National Order of Merit for his significant contributions to Finno-French jazz culture and furtherance of a lively cultural exchange between the two countries.
American vocalist Joyce Elaine Yuille who collaborated with Timo Band on her latest solo album, team up again for three concerts in Southern Finland on 3 - 5 Feburary.
Vibeist Panu Savolainen returns to Lavaklubi with changing guests. This spring’s edition will be kicked off with folk artists Maria Kalaniemi and Timo Alakotila.
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.
