New Baltic Sea Jazz Orchestra, founded by Finnish, Swedish and Latvian musicians will perform their first concerts at the Turku Baltic Sea Days event in the beginning of June.
Baltic Sea Jazz Orchestra, formed for the Turku Baltic Sea Days 2014 happening, will give three concerts in Turku from 1st to 3rd of June. True to its name, the group is formed by seven top musicians from the Baltic Sea area, comprising players from Finland, Sweden and Latvia. This international septet will play two concerts at Forum Marinum and one on the Aurajoki cruise boat, Jakke Jokilautta. Behind the group is the local jazz association, Flame Jazz, which was first started to plan the jazz events in 2011, the year when Turku hosted the European Capital of Culture festivities.
Baltic Sea Jazz Orchestra plays energetic jazz music, arranged for three horns and a four-member rhythm section. At the Turku Baltic Sea Days 2014, their focus will be on Baltic Sea –themed compositions, penned by two Turku-based jazzers, vibraphonist Severi Pyysalo and drummer Jussi Fredriksson. Their music utilises elements from big band music, cleverly and innovatively fused with the improvisational flexibility of a smaller line-up.
In addition to Finns Pyysalo and Fredriksson, the band members include bassist Teemu Åkerblom from Turku, guitarist Peter Holmqvist and saxophonist Andreas Gidlund from Umeå and saxophonist Dāvis Jurka and trumpeter Konstantin Jemeljanovs from Riga. This fresh group is a fitting example of how a cultural project like jazz orchestra can trigger fruitful co-operation and strengthen the friendly ties between the countries of the Baltic Sea area.
Baltic Sea Jazz Orchestra shows:
Sun 1 June at 5PM, Forum Marinum (Linnankatu 72)
Mon 2 Jun at 8:30PM Jakke Jokilautta (Aurajoki)
Tue 3 Jun at 7:15PM Forum Marinum (Linnankatu 72)
Baltic Sea Jazz Orchestra:
Konstantin Jemeljanovs - trumpet
Dāvis Jurka - saxophone
Andreas Gidlund - saxophone
Peter Holmqvist - guitar
Severi Pyysalo - vibes
Teemu Åkerblom - bass
Jussi Fredriksson – drums
Free entry!