News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
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.
G Livelab Helsinki's November program offers a selection of international and domestic pop music, jazz, classical and electronic music. In addition to live music performances, the Doc Lounge Helsinki documentary club will take place.
Jazz Finland (Suomen Jazzliitto) produces two tours and supports the production costs of three co-production tours in the fall of 2021. The application to perform on or produce the tours, or to perform at the Jazz-Espa concert series on the Espa outdoor stage, is open from October 6, at 10.00am to November 9, at 4.00pm.
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra has released a mobile application that enables watching concerts on smart devices. Through the application, you can watch and listen to live concerts or recordings of live events. Downloading and using the application is free.
The 39th International Tampere Jazz Happening will take place from October 29th to November 1st, 2020 at Tullikamari's Pakkahuone and Restaurant Telakka. For the first time in the history of the festival, all artists are domestic. Some concerts will also be streamed, so the audience can also participate in the festival remotely.
In November, the 18-member Sointi Jazz Orchestra will celebrate the release of its new, fourth studio album in Louhisali at Espoo Cultural Center. Sointi Jazz Orchestra is an exceptional ensemble that renews and enlivens the entire Finnish big band culture.
