The 38th April Jazz festival will take place in Espoo and Helsinki from April 19 to April 27, 2024. The international headliners for the event include 8-time Grammy winner, bassist Christian McBride, Grammy-winning R&B singer Ledisi, who will perform with the Vantaa Entertainment Orchestra, and soulful soul artist Shayna Steele. Ticket sales will begin on Friday, December 8, through Lippupiste.
Among the domestic artists at April Jazz next spring, we will see, among others, Finland's most popular a cappella groups Club For Five and Rajaton, who together form an 11-member special lineup. In the release concert for the new album Kauniita piikkejä of Emma Salokoski and Maria Ylipää's Omani uni project, the lineup of singers, jazz trio, and string quartet will be complemented by two special guests, saxophonist Jukka Perko and accordionist Niko Kumpuvaara.
Christian McBride is widely regarded as the standard-bearer for jazz bassists in the 21st century. In 2023, readers and critics of the American jazz magazine DownBeat voted McBride as the best double bassist of the present. In April 2024, he will bring his new project to Europe – a quintet composed of emerging young instrumentalists, including saxophonist Nicole Glover, guitarist Ely Perlman, pianist Mike King, and drummer Savannah Harris. McBride is among the most recorded artists in jazz history, having appeared on over 300 recordings with many iconic figures in jazz, such as Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny. He has also collaborated with diverse artists such as Sting, Questlove from The Roots, and opera singer Kathleen Battle.
Ledisi's successful career began in the mid-1990s as an R&B and jazz artist, songwriter, and music producer. With nine released albums, a Grammy win, 14 Grammy nominations, and numerous sold-out concert tours, she has established herself as one of the most successful singers of her generation. One of Ledisi's strongest influences has been singer Nina Simone. In 2021, Ledisi achieved one of her great dreams by releasing the album Ledisi Sings Nina on her own record label. The album features Jules Buckley leading the Metropole Orkest, Adonis Rose leading The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and singers Lizz Wright, Lisa Fischer and Alice Smith. The album received acclaim, earning Ledisi her latest Grammy nomination. Ledisi will bring her own jazz trio to Finland and perform with the Vantaa Entertainment Orchestra as the soloist in the Nina Simone tribute program, not only at Helsinki's Kulttuuritalo but also at Lahti Sibeliustalo.
Shayna Steele's versatility as a jazz, soul, and blues singer has captured audiences' attention worldwide, from large festival stages to intimate jazz clubs, and even performing as a soloist with some of North America's largest symphony orchestras. Steele, making her first visit to Finland, is a tremendously dynamic singer whose natural ability to effortlessly immerse herself in different styles in the studio, on stage, and on the big screen has elevated her to the forefront of sought-after vocalists in the industry. Throughout her career, Shayna has lent her talents to many top artists. She is featured on Moby's hit songs Raining Again, Disco Lies and Extreme Ways. Michael League selected Shayna's Gone Under for Snarky Puppy's Family Dinner, Volume 1 hit album. Shayna has also performed in Broadway musicals and sung on movie soundtracks.
The festival program will be completed in its entirety in January, when the remaining events and performers will be announced. In addition to the Espoo Cultural Center and Sellosali in Leppävaara, April Jazz concerts will be held next spring at venues such as Helsinki's Kulttuuritalo, and the event will also visit Lahti Sibeliustalo.
April Jazz is one of Finland's largest jazz festivals and has been organized in Espoo annually since 1987. The event is organized by Espoo Big Band ry.
Christian McBride © Chi Modu