The concert series, co-produced by April Jazz and the exhibition center WeeGee, brings top Finnish jazz to the museum environment. Live music is played on the first Friday nights of the month in an afterwork spirit, with free admission to concerts and WeeGee museums. During the autumn, the record releases of Elifantree and Riitta Paakki Quartet will be celebrated at Weegee, and the new Finnish line-up of Iiro Rantala and Maja Mannila will perform among others.
WeeGee serves as a unique setting for April Jazz's autumn club series. In connection with the concert visit, the audience can get acquainted with the exhibition offerings of the four museums, which, like the concerts, are free on Friday evenings. Restaurant Lumière’s French casual cuisine and individual wines complete the start of the weekend. “We are delighted with the new collaboration between April Jazz and WeeGee, where a holistic art experience is created when live music and WeeGee’s art offerings meet. We hope that the club will bring new audiences to jazz”, says festival director for April Jazz Matti Lappalainen.
The fall repertoire consists of fresh, international-level domestic ensembles. Elifantree, who play experimental electroacoustic jazz and publishes their sixth album in early 2021, will present new material on December 4th. Yrjö Award-winning pianist-composer Riitta Paakki will bring her quartet to Espoo on the eve of the release of her second album on 11th December. On Friday 6th November the new ensemble by perhaps the most internationally known Finnish jazz musician Iiro Rantala, Flock, will perform with young visionaries Maja Mannila, Johannes Granroth and Severi Sorjonen playing.
Olli Soikkeli, who has gained international fame especially in the field of jazz manouche, rarely performs in Finland, but now he will be seen at April Jazz Club with Grammy-winning pianist Marian Petrescu and renowned bassist Kaisa Mäensivu on October 30th. Kari Ikonen will present the works of his new solo piano repertoire and his groundbreaking invention of the piano instrument range on Friday 27th November. Titled as one of the most interesting Nordic jazz trios, Joonas Haavisto Trio will perform on 20th November. Markus Niittynen Quartet's recent release will be performed by a trio on October 9th, and the legendary Mika Mylläri Quintet will make a comeback on November 13th, fueled by their new album. The autumn season ends with a Christmas atmosphere with Johanna & Mikko Iivanainen on 18th December.
Each club night begins with a performance by young musicians from Espoo Music College Ebeli. On October 2nd, the evening will be crowned by the Ebeliopet ensemble of music college teachers, starring Mirja Mäkelä, Jenny Robson, Petri Puolitaival and Riitta Paakki, who are known from many top Finnish jazz bands.
WeeGee's spacious spaces ensure safe events. Current safety instructions for customers can be found at www.weegee.fi.
April Jazz Club + WeeGee autumn 2020
2.10. at 18 Ebeliopet on stage
9.10. at 16.30 Markus Niittynen Trio
30.10. at 16.30 Olli Soikkeli Trio
6.11. at 18 Iiro Rantala Flock
13.11. at 16.30 Mika Mylläri Quintet
20.11. at 16.30 Joonas Haavisto Trio
27.11. at 16.30 Kari Ikonen solo feat. Mikko Hassinen
4.12. at 18 Elifantree
11.12. at 16.30 Riitta Paakki Quartet
18.12. at 16.30 Johanna & Mikko Iivanainen Duo
Elifantree. Photo by: Susanna Majuri