News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
Nordic Jazz Comets, the co-production of five Nordic jazz organizations and We Jazz 2020 festival, undergoes major changes. Due to the travel restrictions, the concerts on December 2, will be streamed live from five different cities.
The internationally renowned instrumental band Gourmet has released its fifth album, New Habitat. Lead by saxophonist Mikko Innanen and guitarist Esa Onttonen, the sextet's new release features as its guest artist opera singer Mari Palo.
Trumpeter Mikko Pettinen leads his new quartet Why Not on the last Jazz Finland Tour of this season. Eleven jazz clubs around Finland and Estonia get to hear intriguing tunes from the ensemble's January release Two Suits For The Change.
Archipelago Sea Jazz is a new, internationally appealing festival series built around high-quality jazz music and the unique attraction of our archipelago. Despite having to cancel this summer’s festivals, the organisers were not discouraged and tickets for next year were released with a hopeful mind on Wednesday 4 November. It is possible to support the Baltic Sea in conjunction with the Archipelago Sea Jazz events.
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra is organizing an online composition masterclass in collaboration with the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria and Sibelius Academy of the Uniarts Helsinki
Elena Mîndru-Turunen has been selected as the new director of Oulu Music Festival Foundation. Turunen will take up her new position on January 1st, 2021. The next Oulu Music Festival will be held on March 14th-28th, 2021, and the foundation will produce Jazz & Etno concerts and individual music events throughout the year.
Eclipse Club brings five top artists to Tampere in November. At Kulttuuriravintola Kivi will feature Harri Kuusijärvi Koutus and Kalevi Hämäläinen Group on November 10th. Eclipse Jazz Fest mini festival serves three wonderful bands at Tampere's G Livelab: Teri Mantere, Seppo Kantonen with a solo performance and the band Talambo led by Jori Huhtala.
Jazz Finland’s annual membership gathering Valtakunnalliset Jazzpäivät (“National Jazz Days”) took place at Tampere Jazz Happening festival in what seems to be today’s spirit: The half-full Pakkahuone followed the Yrjö Award ceremony and the award-winner's show with masks on. However, the event was streamed, and you can watch the video free of charge here: https://tiketti.stream/fi/stream/72237. This year’s Yrjö went to saxophonist Timo Lassy, and Jazz Finland’s life’s work award Andania to journalist Matti Laipio. In this interview the laureates look back into the Yrjö history, and the Finnish jazz today.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the new residency by Jazz Finland, Sibelius Academy Jazz Music Department at Uniarts Helsinki, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Finnish Musicians' Union, is rescheduled from August 2020 to August 2021.
The most prestigious prizes in the Finnish jazz industry were given at Tampere Jazz Happening festival on Friday the 30th of October. Jazz Finland granted the annual Yrjö Award to saxophonist Timo Lassy. The award art piece was created by Heikki Willamo. Jazz Finland honoured the life’s work of journalist Matti Laipio by Andania award. Yle Jazzradio’s Varjo-Yrjö recognition was presented to Tampere-based label manager Tapio Ylinen.
