The spring season of Flame Jazz and Turku Jazz Orchestra culminates on 21 May when singer Aili Ikonen takes the stage of Domino Theatre. The first half of the concert sees the vocalist perform new material with her own band; while the second half honours Ella Fitzgerald.
Perhaps the First Lady of Finnish jazz, Aili Ikonen released a new album in April. Entirely in Finnish, the recording, Laulan, is comprised of new compositions written by Ikonen and bassist-composer Mikko Pellinen. Lyrics have been penned by some of Finland’s foremost lyricists, including Timo Kiiskinen and Kanerva Pasanen, in addition to the vocalist herself. Both on the recording and stage, she is accompanied by the same trusted crew that was originally assembled for the lauded project, Tribute to Ella.
This time, Ikonen has turned to the Great American Songbook, best-loved jazz standards and Finnish jazzy schlagers for inspiration. Indeed, there has been room for one loan song among the new material. In Turku, the gifted singer will be backed by trumpeter Janne Toivonen, saxophonist Joakim Berghäll, pianist Artturi Rönkä, bassist Mikko Pellinen and drummer Tuomas Timonen.
Ella Fitzgerald, the foremost female figure in the history of jazz, recorded plenty of material with a big band. Ikonen and Turku Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Vellu Halkosalmi, revisit a selection of classic Ella numbers that they premiered at Turku’s Logomo in 2014 to two full houses.
Aili Ikonen (b. 1982) has established herself among the best Finnish jazz singers. In recent years she has appeared in many acclaimed musical productions and performed, for example, at the Presidential Independence Day Reception with the Kaartin Combo (the Guard Combo). The third effort fits will in with Ikonen’s two previous albums: a collaborative album with the groupHERD, Jazzbasilli delved into the goldmine of Finnish jazz-schlager; while Tribute to Ella paid homage to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald.
Evening With Aili
Sat 21 May at 19.00, Domino Theatre (Humalistonkatu 7, Turku).
Aili Ikonen with Her Group
Aili Ikonen – vocals
Mikko Pellinen – bass, compositions, arrangements
Janne Toivonen – trumpet, flugelhorn
Joakim Berghäll – saxophones, flute
Artturi Rönkä – piano
Tuomas Timonen – drums
Turku Jazz Orchestra & Aili Ikonen: ELLA!
Aili Ikonen – vocals
Vellu Halkosalmi – conduction
Pre-tickets 30 € available atTicketmaster Suomi and the Turku City Theatre box office.