News -page consists of current topics and interesting articles about jazz in Finland.
One of the European jazz forefronters, Aki Rissanen Trio starts a tour in April. Aki Rissanen Trio started their Art In Motion album release tour in autumn 2019, and is now finishing it with seven concerts. In addition to pianist Aki Rissanen, the trio is formed by bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. The tour is co-produced by Raitala Music Oy and Jazz Finland.
Validi Karkia -club, based in Pori, celebrates its 9th birthday and helds its 300th concert this spring. Also a local Antikvariatic shop by Markku Ranta is now closing its doors after 30 years. These two celebrations are combined in several days long Bookstock festival.
Savoy JAZZFest brings international festival atmosphere to the center of Helsinki on March 5–8th. Every night after the main concerts there will be after party jazzclubs at Hotel Haven.
April Jazz festival, held on 22th-26th April in Espoo, announces its final program. This year April Jazz presents 11 international groups that are performing in Finland for the first time, setting the record of more first-timers than before. Artists include three-time Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvantin with pianist Sullivan Fortner, 15 times Grammy nominated jazzpianist Fred Hersch and pianist legend Bob James together with jazz trumpeter Till Brönner. The program includes also four album release parties of Finnish bands and one composition premiere.
Jarmo Saari celebrates his 50th birthday with a charitable concert at Savoy theatre on March 14th. The concert program includes songs from the extensive career of multi-instrumentalist and composer Saari. He is joined by guest musicians and artists from the Finnish frontline. The profits of the concert are given to "Suojellaan lapsia" -organisation, that aims to prevent sexual violence on children.
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s artistic director and main conductor Ed Partyka has his handprint on UMO’s program for spring 2020. Partyka has created the outlines of the program, and also arranges and orchestrates music for concerts that are conducted by him. Partyka’s compositions are heard in many concertrs as well.
We Jazz organises new summer festival, Odysseus, on Lonna island between 25 and 26 of July 2020, expanding the popular Lonna concert series to an integrated summer festival. The latest programme release is Eero Koivistoinen Quartet performing the legendary Odysseus album, which also was the inspiration behind the festival name.
Timo Lassy Band’s new live album is featured the brass group Ricky-Tick Big Band Brass. Record will be released in February.
Multi-instrumentalist Mikko Pettinen and his band Why Not opened the new decade in Eclipse Music's catalog with their epic double album "Two Suites For The Change". Thematic album ponders the state of the world with its wide compositions and out-speaking lyrics. Album was released on 17th Jan 2020 as a vinyl-LP, CD and digitally.
"Creative Music and Sound Workshop" is held in Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki on 14th-15th March. The teacher of the course is saxophonist and composer Esa Pietilä. The course is suited for all instruments and vocalists, at all levels.
