In spring 2016, Helsinki’s restaurant Storyville is to play host to a new club series, Afrojazz Club. Taking place every other Thursday until late May, Afrojazz Club offers danceable Afro styles and world music – live and recorded. In addition to music, Africa is present on the menu, in the decorations and discussion programme.
Afrojazz Club is a multicultural and multi-artistic project, which combines music, visual arts, video art, dance and scenography from some of the most notable Finnish names of their field. The goal is to create, by the means of art, a space for a higher understanding between cultures, bursting with joy of life.
“Afrojazz Club won me over completely and there’s no doubt I will come here again,” says journalist Hanna-Sofia Jauhiainen about the opening night of the club.
“Finally a decent haunt for dancing has arrived in Helsinki,” declared one of the many visitors on the opening night.
While dancing and having fun is, indeed, one of the main aims, the raison d'être of the club series is to make Helsinki a better place to live.
The opening night took place on 14 January and drew a full house. Warm atmosphere; compelling rhythms; discussions on anti-racist work; friendly encounters – the new concept resonated with visitors immediately.
This is what Afrojazz Club is about.
Superhelle, the headlining act of the opening night, says: “The one core idea of our music philosophy is the belief that people from different cultural backgrounds can co-operate together peacefully without any aggressive competition. Different music cultures can enrich each other, making the outcome more than the sum of its parts. With the refugee question growing more and more complex and the people becoming more and more divided on what should be done about it Superhelle offers music that is a composite of Sibelius, West-African jazz, rock, modern concert music, Karelian folk music and many others.”
The next edition invades Storyville on Thursday 28 January, seeing vocalist Sam Huber of funk group Eternal Erection front the Finnish-Beninese-Senegalese Afrojazz Quintet. We will be in for afrofunk, reggae, hi-life, blues, rock’n’roll and funk in rootsy afro-influenced arrangements with just a hint of New Orleans thrown in. A guest appearance will be made by pianist Markus Niittynen. DJ Borzin, known for his Balkan Fever club, and Beninese percussionist Akim Color make sure that the beat will not flag for a moment.
Afrojazz Club in spring 2016:
14.1 Superhelle, Dj Borzin with Akim Color, perc
28.1. Afrojazz Quintet feat Sam Huber & Dj Borzin with Akim Color, perc
11.2. Faso Kan, Dj Ibou
25.2. Afrojazz Quintet feat Ismaila Sané, Bogolo, Dj Borzin
10.3. Sila Fato, Dj Ibou
24.3. Afrojazz Quintet feat Meissa Niang, Sakari Kukko & special guest Ismaila Sané, Dj Borzin
7.4. Afrobeat from the Heart, Dj Borzin
21.4. Afrojazz Quintet feat. Ismaila Sané, Dj Ibou
5.5. Ayiekooto & International, Dj Borzin
19.5. Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble, Afrojazz Quintet feat. Sam Huber, Dj Ibou
Afrojazz Club at Storyville
Museokatu 8, Helsinki
19-02. Showtime 22.
Tickets 8 € / Tiketti, Lippupiste and at the door (+ cloakroom fee 3 €)
https://www.facebook.com/AFROJAZZCLUB/