News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
On April 30th, UNESCO International Jazz Day is celebrated once again. In addition to jazz’s artistic value, the day promotes peace, intercultural cooperation, and respect for human dignity and human rights. Finnish Jazz Federation organizes a week-long Jazz Day campaign, with jazz musicians Abdissa ‘Mamba’ Assefa and Aili Ikonen as the faces of this year.
The program of April Jazz continues today, Monday, April 22, with a concert featuring the Ukrainian youth orchestra Kryvyi Rih Junior Big Band and the Finnish brass band KOLIZIO.
The seven-member Mikko Sarvanne Garden, led by composer Mikko Sarvanne, will perform in seven cities across Finland from May 8th to 17th. Sarvanne was awarded the Teosto Prize in 2023 for the compositions on the band's debut album.
We Jazz will release pianist-composer Olli Ahvenlahti's new album Mirror Mirror on April 19th. Stylistically positioned as a continuation of the classic 1970s albums The Poet and Bandstand, the album also celebrates the long career and lifetime achievements of the Finnish jazz legend who turns 75 this year. Olli Ahvenlahti New Quintet will perform material from the new album at the April Jazz festival in Espoo on April 27th.
The acclaimed Red Desert Orchestra led by French pianist Eve Risser will perform on April 19th in Espoo, on April 20th in Salo, and on April 23rd in Tampere. The EJN Green Pilot Tour project will also take the 12-member orchestra to Tallinn on April 22nd.
The festival, held every other year, brings together saxophone professionals, students, enthusiasts, and the audience for the third time.
On Thursday, April 11th, Turku Jazz Orchestra will host a concert night at the Utopia Club featuring one of Finland's leading vocal artists, Antti Koivula, taking on the role of vocal soloist for the works of American composer Frank Zappa. This spectacle will be seen for the first time in Finland with accompaniment by a big band.
Puistoblues is renewing itself this summer. The festival is expanding its lineup by featuring emerging Finnish blues artists in the main concert. More announcements about performers are coming soon.
UMO's Silent Music concerts during Easter week will feature two young guest soloists, bringing new tones to the performances.
Last year's festival newcomer SaltFest kicks off its second year with a diverse program. In addition to well-known artists, the four-day festival will feature new promising talents – and guaranteed surprises from different genres of music.
