News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
The first Beatwave Festival of the year at mbar will be a memorable one; the festival will host the biggest names in its history this June. Beatwave Festival’s partner is Red Bull Music Academy, and in co-operation with mbar will present three hot artists, Ladi6 (NZ), Onra (FR) and FaltyDL (US) first time in Helsinki. At the same weekend, on Sunday, mbar will also host the Söndag Jazz jam sessions.
The Erik Lindström Foundation will award the annual Erik Lindstöm grant this Tuesday at Restaurant Laulumiehet at 7PM. The evening’s live music will be provided by Trio Urho, two of whose members have previously received the grant. The concert is part of the jaZZanti concert series.
New Baltic Sea Jazz Orchestra, founded by Finnish, Swedish and Latvian musicians will perform their first concerts at the Turku Baltic Sea Days event in the beginning of June.
Naantali, the hometown of the Moomins, is also a home of jazz this weekend as the new festival, Naantali Jazz Weekend, is organised for the first time. The festival occurs at the same time with a more marine happening, namely the Naantali Boat Show.
Jyväskylä's cradle of jazz, Poppari, hosts a new club night starting from 27 May. The monthly Summer Jazz Club runs all summer, introducing each time two promising Jyväskylä-based jazz groups.
It can be said that joining forces is often a good idea. For Flame Jazz and Turku Jazz it definitely was so, as in August 2014 the new Turku Jazz In Flames will bring one of the living legends of jazz to the old capital of Finland; namely, the honourable Dave Liebman. In the happening, Liebman will give a concert with a group formed by top-notch Finnish jazz musicians.
The 23rd Kerava Jazz Festival starts this Thursday, 22 May 2014. Like in previous years, the concerts will be organised around Kerava in milieus ranging from Kerava Sali concert hall to the church. Jam night is traditionally hosted by Pub Robins. The programme comprises international stars, Finnish and Scandinavian top-class jazz artists, without forgetting a splash of local colour.
Pianist Kari Ikonen’s innovative trio with bassist Ara Yaralyan and drummer Markku Ounaskari will cross the Atlantic to play five concerts in the United States. In addition to the trio tour, Ikonen will be seen on stage as a duo with drummer Ra-Kalam Bob Moses.
The Finnish Jazz Federation presented four talented, up-and-coming jazz groups in the Finnish YNJC contest at Koko Jazz Club on Saturday the 17th of May. The bands competed over a spot at the Nordic YNJC showcase at the Jazz Finland festival in September. The winner, Elena & The Rom Ensemble blended stylishly ingredients of Romanian folk music into jazz tradition.
The first of the three albums is due to be released in Finland in August 2014 and in the German-speaking Europe in January 2015. The American saxophonist Dave Liebman will appear on the album.
