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News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland. 

We Jazz 2014: new artists announced, three opening events

15.8.2014 | news

The programme of We Jazz 2014 has grown larger. Dawn of Midi, Jimi Tenor Jazz à la Karma, Ahvenlahti-Koivistoinen 3 G Quintet and Tatu Rönkkö Plays Your Kitchen have been confirmed as new acts. We Jazz 2014 offer three opening events in addition to the already announced opening concert at Aleksanterin teatteri: knitwear design will shake hands with jazz, Timo Lassy and Higher Ground will explore spiritual dimensions of jazz and Hailu Mergia, a major force of today’s Ethiopian jazz, will play with his trio at Kuudes Linja. Also the timetable has been released, and the festival tickets are now available for purchase.

Turku Jazz happening this year more summery than ever

14.8.2014 | news

Turku Jazz 2014 kicks off today, running from 14 to 17 August. Turku Jazz festival has taken place the old capital for 45 years. Now the festival has switched indoor venues to outdoor concert milieus and the date from early spring to late summer. The festival starts today and is centered in the brewery restaurant Koulu’s courtyard, which accommodates 900 visitors. The green milieu of the Samppalinna outdoor theatre acts as the second main venue. It will host Saturday’s concert, where Iiro Rantala features as a soloist for Turku Jazz Orchestra. The programme will consist of the orchestra’s conductor Vellu Halkosalmi’s five-part composition Changes, specially composed for Rantala, and the soloist’s own pieces.

Joona Toivanen Trio to release a new album

13.8.2014 | news

November, the fifth album by Joona Toivanen Trio, will come out in September on the acclaimed Italian label CAM Jazz. Formed by Joona Toivanen, Tapani Toivanen and Olavi Louhivuori, the outfit’s music is characterised by tranquil serenity and strong melodicity.

YNJC showcase to Helsinki on September 18

12.8.2014 | news

The Finnish Jazz Federation is proud to present the freshest and most exciting jazz night in town, and reveal the five bands that are performing live at the fifteenth edition of the Young Nordic Jazz Comets showcase on September 18 at Koko Jazz Club! This year the YNJC showcase takes place at the Jazz Finland festival, which is a one-of-a-kind jazz export event with nearly two hundred music professionals exploring Finnish jazz.

Tavarataivas score by Timo Lassy released in Japan

8.8.2014 | news

The soundtrack for the Finnish blockbuster film Tavarataivas was released in Japan in a digital format jointly with the film premiere on 6 August. Tavarataivas is directed by Petri Luukkainen and the score was composed by Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy. The music was released at the insistence of the audience.

Ville Leinonen & Mopo – Music carries a message

6.8.2014 | news

Produced by the OK Study Centre and tailored by Oskari Mänttäri, tuOKio Club concert series has approached social and political questions through music already for three years. Each year the OK Study Centre has commissioned new music from some of the best topical Finnish artists, and this year the turn is Ville Leinonen’s and Mopo's to take action and go on a tour.

Jazz-Espa and JazzPiknik drew large audiences

5.8.2014 | news

The fifteenth edition of the annual Jazz-Espa concert series drew over 1,500 people to the Espa stage last week. The free open air concerts portrayed six topical, Finnish jazz acts from Monday to Saturday and ended with a huge success of the JazzPiknik mini festival on Sunday at the restaurant mbar's terrace on Lasipalatsi square. The Jazz-Espa audience was matched by the JazzPiknik audience and there was even something described as a "jazz riot"...

Pohjola is a symbiosis of jazz and contemporary dance

2.8.2014 | news

Contemporary dance meets jazz on Åbo Svenska Teater stage on Saturday 9 August in the premiere of "Pohjola - Nordic Roots" – a piece that portrays the history, nature and mentality of the North by the languages of movement and music.