News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Four-day jazz festival Turku Jazz 2015 starts today. Each of the four days has a theme of its own, reaching from world music and nostalgia to contemporary jazz and big band music, respectively. The concerts take place in the courtyard of Brewery Restaurant Koulu, and on the Night of the Arts in the Börs Park.
Led by pianist Alexi Tuomarila and saxophonist Nicolas Kummert, Drifter picks up from where Tuomarila’s Quartet left. The new album, “Flow”, comes out on renowned British label, Edition Records.
The programme release party takes place at Kahvila Sävy, with trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and drummer Sami Nummela both giving a solo set. Recorded music will be played by We Jazz DJs. We Jazz 2015 tabloid magazine will be issued in the same event.
Juhlat (Fete) is a new kind of performance concept, a composite of drama and jazz concert, exploring the themes of money, family and art. When Juhlat was premiered at the Ylioppilasteatteri studio in March this year, all performances were booked within less than 24 hours. Now Juhlat will get four additional performances at Mustikkamaan kesäteatteri (Mustikkamaa Open Air Theatre).
Kamasi Washington, whose name is right now hot on the lips of the jazz world, has announced his very first visit to Finland. The American multi-talent, whose recent album “The Epic” has made it to virtually every “Album of the Year” list, will give a show at Helsinki’s The Circus on Monday 30 November.
Application now open for Bucharest International Jazz Competition. The event takes place in May 2016. Application deadline is 10 February 2016.
In addition to a varied selection of concerts Turku Jazz Orchestra organises events for professional and amateur musicians.
The fourth and last edition of the summer’s We Jazz club series, taking place at mbar terrace in the heart of Helsinki, presents a rare audio-visual experiment, a brainchild of drummer Teppo Mäkynen’s. Mäkynen has assembled a group especially for the occasion, a group which is composed of saxophonist Jukka Perko, guitarist Teemu Viinikainen and bassist Ville Herrala. Visuals will be conjured up by the magicians of National RGB VJs and the grooviest picks of recorded jazz are brought to us, as always, by the We Jazz DJs.
Youtube brings Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble's show at Sziget at Finnish homes in real time on 14 August.
My Working Class Hero, to be issued on German label ACT Music, reveals yet another side of Rantala’s masterful skills as a solo pianist. The album is to be released just before Lennon’s 75th birthday.
