Pori Jazz, in cooperation with Satakunnan Osuuskauppa, is offering a free concert at Lokkilava on Wednesday 16 July at 18:00 with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra feat. Paleface & Adele Sauros.
The Lokkilava evening concert will bring the circle full circle, as the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra played its first ever concert at Pori Jazz 50 years ago on 12 July 1975. Back then, the orchestra was known as the Finnish Jazz Workshop. Since then, the Kokemäenjoki River has flowed and the orchestra’s name has changed several times: first to the New Music Orchestra, then internationally to the UMO Jazz Orchestra, and in 2019 to the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary from summer 2025 to spring 2026, the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra has been at the top of Finnish jazz for decades. Over the years, the George and Emma Award-winning and Grammy-nominated UMO has recorded more than 60 albums and performed with international jazz greats as well as Finnish artists. One thing remains the same: UMO’s core is new music. This festive season is about looking back, celebrating achievements and keeping a firm eye on the future.
UMO is synonymous with jazz greats and masterpieces. And that’s what you’ll find at this Pori Jazz Lokkilava concert on 16 July 2025, when lyricist Paleface’s unpretentious social rap and spoken word meet UMO’s bold, jazz-tuned big band landscape, with brilliant saxophonist Adele Sauros as soloist. The music is arranged by Mikko Hassinen, who will also be conducting the concert.
Paleface, who released his first album in 2001, is known for his socially conscious and opinionated lyrics – both in Finnish and English – and his love of jazz. He is an active advocate of human rights and equality and has collaborated with many Finnish and international artists.
Multi-award-winning Adele Sauros is one of the most active saxophonists, composers and bandleaders on the European jazz scene. She is internationally known for her ensembles Adele Sauros Quartet, Katu Kaiku and JAF Trio. In 2021, he received the Emma Award for the best jazz album of the year with drummer Olavi Louhivuori’s Superposition.
Together with Satakunnan Osuuskauppa, Pori Jazz also implements the Satakunta Stage programme on the Eteläranta Jazz Street. Satakunta Stage is a free and non-age-limited concert venue, the programme of which will be published in the coming weeks.