The 40th anniversary of UMO Jazz Orchestra will be opened with style. In January 2015 composer Iro Haarla and UMO collaborate in three concerts, and in January celebrated Paquito D’Rivera will front the big band for the first time in 27 years.
Paquito D’Rivera to feature UMO in February 2015
Cuban-American clarinettist, saxophonist, composer and conductor Paquito D’Rivera will revisit the 40-year-old UMO after a 27-year break. He has appeared as UMO’s soloist three times before, in 1982, 1984 and 1988. The charismatic multi-talent and founding member of band Irakere is equally at home in the field of jazz, Latin and classical music. D’Rivera has released more than 30 solo albums and appeared on dozens of recordings during his long career. On his mantelpiece he has 14 Grammy awards.
The concert programme is planned by D’Rivera, and it will consist mainly of material that he has composed for various big band projects. There will be also a premiere in honour of the late Esko Linnavalli a founding member of UMO and friend of D’Rivera himself.
The concert will be a co-production of UMO and Savoy Theatre.
CONCERT: Paquito D'Rivera & UMO
Fri 13 Feb 2015 at 7:00 Savoy-teatteri (Savoy Theatre), Kasarmikatu 46-48, Helsinki
Tickets available at Lippupalvelu starting from. 38,50 € / 32,50 € (service fees included)
Iro Haarla to compose new music for UMO
UMO’s 40th anniversary will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the late Edward Vesala. To commemorate the great visionary, UMO and pianist-harpist Iro Haarla will collaborate in three concerts that offer a cross-section of Vesala’s repertoire, earlier works by Haarla and the premieres of two commissioned pieces. Expect full-blooded modern jazz and melodic ballads.
Both Vesala and Haarla share a collaborative history with UMO. Vesala appeared as soloist for the big band in the 80s and 90s and they made an album entitled Bad Luck, Good Luck together in 1985. UMO and Haarla have collaborated several times in the 21st century.
UMO will also continue running the “Enemmän irti esityksestä” (Get More Out of the Show) discussions, inviting Iro Haarla to shed light on the themes and background of the pieces before the concerts. One of the concerts will take place at Koko Jazz Club, and thus open the spring season of the Monday Night at Koko Jazz Club concert series.
CONCERT: UMO celebrates: Music of Iro Haarla & Edward Vesala
Thu 29 Jan 2015 at 2.00PM Kanneltalo, Helsinki*
Fri 30 Jan 2015 at 7.00PM Malmitalo, Helsinki**
Mon 2 Feb 2015 at7.00PM Koko Jazz Club, Helsinki***
Tickets are available for purchase.
Grammy-winning Gregory Porter's visit on 25 March was announced earlier. Read more on http://www.umo.fi/konsertit/gregory-porter-umo/