News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Verneri Pohjola, the fourth contributor to the Jazzpresso article series, shares the twists and turns of his career as an international jazz artist. Pohjola highlights that especially in the 2010s it is impossible to give definitive steps to international success. Instead, he believes that a key to success may lie in two skills: the ability to count on one's artistic vision and the readiness to adapt to the changing nature of a jazz musician's profession.
The second night of the fresh club series run by We Jazz invades the cosy milieu of mbar terrace on Tuesday 16 June. This edition features duo Jaska Lukkarinen and Antti Lötjönen reinforced by organist Seppo Kantonen and sax player Mikko Innanen. Visuals will be provided by National RGB VJs and records will be spun by the brotherhood of We Jazz Djs.
Haavisto, who was bestowed upon the honorary title of musiikkineuvos by the President of Finland in 2007, turned 85 on 5 June.
The Hammond wizard Kalle Salonen invites a number of great pop and jazz musicians to join him at the terrace of Elmun Baari, at rock club Nosturi, in Helsinki, this summer in the framework of a new club series. The club runs from June to August, seeing Salonen perform with fine guests from the vanguard of Finnish music.
The Lars-Gunnar Nordström Fund has donated Nordström’s extensive collection of jazz music to the Finnish National Library. The collection comprises 15 000 recordings, literature and music players that represent jazz culture from the 1940s to the 21st century, amassed by painter, sculptor and graphic artist Lars-Gunnar Nordström.
Due to a huge demand, the 20-piece gives two album-launching concerts on Saturday 10 October.
Savitaipale soi festival comes again this June – now jazzier than ever. The three-day event features pianist Iiro Rantala, trumpeter Mikko Pettinen & Happy People, saxophonist Timo Lassy with vocalist Johanna Försti, salsa group Tiempo Habana, the definitive group of Finnish funk, The Northern Governors, young stellar vibeist Panu Savolainen and the acclaimed Ilmiliekki Quartet with Emma Salokoski.
Part of the music Foundation JAPA, Erik Lindström Fund has bestowed its annual grant upon drummer Sami Nummela this year. The prize sum of 2500 euros is directed to support Nummela in his studies in the United States.
Timo Lassy, one of the most acclaimed of Finnish jazz artists, has released a music video for the title track of his new album, Love Bullet. The video features Finnish actress Katariina Kaitue and actor Jussi Nikkilä. Both the album and the video came out on 29 May. The sax man launches his fourth studio album on 3 June at club Dubrovnik in Helsinki. The concert is sold out.
"Live in Helsinki 1995", a live recording by UMO Jazz Orchestra and saxophone legend Michael Brecker (1949-2007) is set for release this coming autumn. The concert was recorded at the recently opened Royal Cotton Club in Helsinki in October 1995. The recording was produced by Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE and the release is UMO’s first from YLE’s archives to feature an international soloist. It is also Brecker’s first posthumous live album.
