News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Jazz Finland's spring season was supposed to start with Selma Juudit Alessandra's tour on February 9–18, but due to the ongoing pandemic, the tour will be postponed until two periods in November–December. The indie-jazz foursome, led by singer-songwriter Selma Savolainen, plays live in seven cities on Nov 9–11 and Nov 30–Dec 3.
According to a survey among the live music venues, festivals and orchestras, the scene is ready to take action towards more environmentally sustainable practices in concert production, but more information, resources and concrete tools are needed.
Saxophonist Timo Lassy and drummer Teppo Mäkynen will return at the beginning of the year with a new full-length album. In 2019 and 2020, We Jazz Records will release a double album recorded live on vinyl, CD and digitally. The first single Calling James (live) will be released today.
Guitarist Timo Kämäräinen releases new instrumental music. Blink and You Miss It is a fascinating collection of miniature portraits based on Kämäräinen's free improvisations. The album will be released on vinyl LP, CD and streamed on January 29, 2021.
Vibraphonist Panu Savolainen will release his new album Soiva in February 2021. A podcast will also be published in connection with the album.
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and The Finnish Big Band Association organise a reformed composition contest, Helsinki International Big Band Composing Contest. It will replace the Esko Linnavalli Big Band Composition Competition held biennially since 2005, slightly updating the rules of its predecessor.
Legendary singer-songwriter Hector's life’s work will be celebrated at Pori Jazz next summer. The concert, called Hector Reimagined, will feature both Hector himself and a top band led by Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen, who will present the new arrangements envisioned by Pöyhönen from Hector's extensive body of work. Pori Jazz's program has also announced additions with other Finnish performers.
Due to the corona situation, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will replace its concert activities with streamed concerts.
Released on 11 December 2020, the album Music of Haarla, Heinilä, Kasurinen & Rönkä sees UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra play ambitious and original big band music by Finnish composers Iro Haarla, Kari Heinilä, Sampo Kasurinen and Artturi Rönkä. The outcome is a selection of compelling pieces that not only approach the genre from a fresh angle but test the unwritten laws of music more generally. The compositions take UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra boldly to untrodden areas while holding on to timeless class. On the new release, the orchestra is conducted by Kirmo Lintinen.
Aki Rissanen, one of the most internationally known Finnish jazz names at the moment, will release one full concert recording per week from his video archive via his Facebook page. The series will begin on December 14th.
