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.
New additions include US-based saxophonist Steve Coleman and Danish percussionist Marilyn Mazur. The young generation of international performers are highly awarded Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana, Swiss band Trio Heinz Herbert and progressive rock to Arabic music combining French band SARĀB.
Fresh sounds of Finnish jazz are presented by TALAMBO, which is a new band lead by bassist Jori Huhtala, composer-guitarist Valtteri Pöyhönen's group Dalindèo, Olli Soikkeli Trio and Peela.
The host orchestra of the festival, Espoo Big Band is celebrating its 40th birthday with a premiere of a work ordered from Mikko Hassinen. The composition is conducted by Marzi Nyman and featured by trumpeter Verneri Pohjola.
New venues
April Jazz announces also new concert venues. Located in Otaniemi A Bloc shopping center, a new Fazer Food & Co. restaurant is turned into an atmospheric show & dinner jazz club on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday 25th the venue is changed into an energetic jazzy night club.
On Wednesday 23th April Jazz visits Temppeliaukio Church, where Norwegian Trondheim Jazz Orchestra performs together with organist-composer Alf Hulbækmo.
Tickets are sold at lippu.fi
See the full program at www.apriljazz.fi.