News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
In January-February UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will stream four concert online. There will be two free and two paid online concerts. The concerts are divided between different platforms: UMO Helsinki mobile application, Helsinkikanava.fi and HKO Screen service.
I was talking on the telephone a few days ago with Bettina Uhlmann, the manager of the Zürich Jazz Orchestra in Switzerland. We’ve known each other for a long time, so after we discussed our official business the conversation moved on to “So, how is it really going?”
Her answer was “Well, at least we are not managing or conducting Choirs.”
This sums up the situation for jazz orchestras and big bands at the moment.
Turku's jazz year starts with a series of online concerts in exceptional circumstances. The first Flame Jazz night of the year will be celebrated on Facebook Live on Friday 22 January by award-winning pianist-composer Iro Haarla.
The 2020 Emma Award nominees were announced today. Jussi Lehtonen Quartet, Mortality, Riitta Paakki Quartet, Superposition and Verneri Pohjola are nominated for Jazz-Emma.
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.
