News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra has extended Ed Partyka’s Chief Conductor & Artistic Director contract. The three-year contract now runs until the end of 2024 and also includes a further option for a one-year extension to 2025.
The 40th international Tampere Jazz Happening will be organized at the Tullikamari’s Pakkahuone, Klubi, as well as restaurant Telakka venues between 4th and 7th November 2021. During four days, altogether 23 ensembles will perform at the festival, including the winner of this year’s Yrjö Award, who will be performing in conjunction with the award ceremony that takes place at the festival. This anniversary year’s festival program includes artists such as John Scofield & Dave Holland, Lakecia Benjamin, and Pepe Willberg & Jukka Eskola Statement.
Yinon Muallem, who performs at Malmitalo on 9 November as part of the Etnosoi! Festival, is one of the key figures in Oriental Jazz. The award-winning composer, master percussionist and oud player is making his first appearance in Finland.
Jazz Finland, Sibelius Academy Jazz Music Department at Uniarts Helsinki, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Finnish Musicians’ Union launched a new international jazz residency program in August 2021. The program is proud to feature bassist Linda May Han Oh as the second artist-in-residence for two weeks in October.
The 35th April Jazz will be held October 27th-31st at the Espoo Cultural Center and the Espoo Museum of Modern Art EMMA. The main performers of the festival will be Grammy-winning American tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, who will perform as the soloist with the Polish Marcin Wasilewski Trio, as well as Portuguese fado singer Carminho. The festival's strong domestic repertoire includes all five 2020 Jazz-Emma nominees: Lenni-Kalle Taipale, who is celebrating his 25-year career as an artist, the festival's host orchestra, Espoo Big Band, and pianist Aki Rissanen who will perform at the solo concert. Tickets are for sale at Lippupiste's online store and offices.
Jazz Finland (Suomen Jazzliitto) produces two tours in the fall season 2022. You can apply to perform on these tours, or at the Jazz-Espa concert series in the summer of 2022 via an application form that is attached here. The application opens at 10 am on October 11 and closes at 4 pm on November 8, 2021.
Trumpeter Tomi Nikku’s quintet goes on nine-concert record release tour in October 2021. The five front-row jazzers portray a picture of today’s global challenges in their music.
Kahdeksannentoista kerran järjestettävä jazzristeily tuo Viking Gracelle jälleen odotetun minifestivaalin kuudella liekehtivällä esityksellä 18.–19. syyskuuta.
Helsingin laajamittaisin jazztapahtuma We Jazz järjestetään kahdeksatta kertaa. Huippujazzia tarjoilevan festivaalin ohjelmistossa ovat mukana muun muassa Greg Foat 7tet, Timo Lassy Trio, Atomic, Ilmiliekki Quartet, Iro Haarla presents: Leo Records, Jason Nazary ja Linda Fredriksson Juniper.
American jazz drummer, composer, bandleader and ethnomusicologist Dana Hall has been appointed visiting professor of jazz at Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy. The purpose of the professorship is to strengthen the understanding of African American cultural tradition in the academy’s Department of Jazz and to further develop cooperation with American universities. Hall began his two-year term in August 2021.
