Joona Toivanen & Kallio Slaaki to a doubleheader tour
Pianist Joona Toivanen and drummer combo Kallio Slaaki go on a Jazz Federation tour together this week. The tour extends to eight concert venues across the country.
News
News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Drummer Markku Ounaskari receives the Yrjö award 2014
Finnish Jazz Federation, the umbrella organisation of Finnish jazz, has awarded drummer Markku Ounaskari with the Yrjö award on Friday 31 October at Tullikamarin Pakkahuone, Tampere Jazz Happening. The Yrjö is the most prestigious jazz prize in Finland. The Varjo-Yrjö, granted by the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yleisradio, was given to the Turku-based jazz society Flame Jazz. In addition to the two prizes, the Andania prize, to honour a life's work in the field of jazz, was given to Juha Söder. Söder has been an active and long-standing member and the President of the Finnish Jazz Federation.
Liberty Ship also to Helsinki straight from their tour in Japan
Saxman Esa Pietilä's celebrated improvisational quartet Liberty Ship visits also Helsinki on their Jazz Federation tour. The power quartet Pietilä-Rissanen-Lötjönen-Louhivuori set up for a hive-minded performance at Lavaklubi on Thursday 30 October, after their intensive tour in Japan.
James Morrison to star Kymi Brass!
Horns hoot again in Kouvola as brass music festival Kymi Brass comes for the 14th time. Kymi Brass, one of the two biggest brass music festivals takes place from Friday 31 October to Saturday 2 November bringing some of the frontline horn blowers to Kouvola. This time the honorary guest is the world-renowned Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison.
Gregory Porter to front UMO in March 2015
Gregory Porter is without a doubt one of the hottest jazz vocalists around right now. In March 2015 he will join UMO on Helsinki Hall of Culture stage as the orchestra celebrates its 40th year.
Finnish Musicians’ Union rewards Jussi Fredriksson and Timo Pulakka
The Finnish Musicians’ Union (Suomen Muusikkojen Liitto ry) has awarded jazz musician Jussi Fredriksson and orchestral musician Timo Pulakka with the annual recognition prize for their exceptional contribution to the field of Finnish music. Both are known as musicians who do more than is expected, for which each will receive the full prize amount of 5000 euros.
First artists of the sixth Flame Jazz Cruise announced
The popular concept gathers a host of hot and topical Finnish artists aboard Viking Grace on a jazzy cruise on the Baltic Sea.
Kansi Auki Piano Jazz Festival comes in November
Kansi Auki Piano Jazz Festival is organised for the fourth time on 13-16 November in Helsinki. The fourth edition of the festival offers a number of premieres by Finnish artists and brings some of the most interesting European pianists to town.
New album out from Jussi Fredriksson Trio
Jussi Fredriksson, one of the central figures in today’s Finnish jazz scene, has recently formed a new trio with bassist Jori Huhtala and drummer Mika Kallio. Their debut album ?explores the positive and empowering aspects of uncertainty. Stylistically, the group goes for a warm living room feels.
Sointi Jazz Orchestra to entertain at Koko Jazz Club’s Jazz Brunch on 26 October
The 17-piece led by composer-arranger Rasmus Soini stretches the bounds of traditional big band music.