Eero Koivistoinen, one of the pillars of Finnish jazz and composition, turned 70 on 13 January and will, rightly, be spotlighted from many fronts throughout the year. In addition to a string of concerts from the archive broadcast by YLE Teema not long a go, the godfather of Finnish jazz will appear on stage and on a number of reissues.
Koivistoinen kicks off the anniversary year by featuring UMO Jazz Orchestra in four concerts around the Helsinki metropolitan area this January. One of the founders and a one-time artistic director of the orchestra, Koivistoinen plays his main anniversary show with the big band at the Savoy Theatre on 22 January. For this concert, they will also be joined by vocalist Johanna Iivanainen.
Koivistoinen and UMO meet again in the last week of January at Vuotalo, Kanneltalo and Malmitalo on three consecutive days. In these concerts, we will be in for a cross-section of Koivistoinen’s original big band pearls from over the years. Also a handful of recent compositions and arrangements, written specifically for the anniversary concert series and ranging from Scandianvian soundscapes all the way to Afro-American rhythms and funk, will be heard.
In honour of Koippa’s long career, Svart Records will reissue a considerable chunk of the saxophonist’s recordings over 2016. First in line, on 5 February, will be the acclaimed duo of Valtakunta and For Children on vinyl. After them, following Odysseus, to be re-released towards the end of February, will be the 1975 Day Is Over – a collaboration with Esko Linnavalli Sextet. During spring and summer in the pipeline will be children’s album Muusa ja Ruusa, 3rd Version by Eero Koivistoinen & Co and Wahoo! by Eero Koivistoinen Music Society. Autumn will see three Koippa albums from the late 70s – The Front is Breaking, Labyrinth and At Belmont Jazz Club – return to record shops. What is more, some new material is to come out from Koivistoinen’s new quartet after the much-lauded 2015 Hati Hati.
Eero Koivistoinen & Johanna Iivanainen & UMO: Eero 70 Years!
22 Jan Helsinki, Savoy-teatteri
Pre-tickets: Lippupalvelu 28 € / 24 € / 14 € (incl. service fees)
Eero Koivistoinen & UMO: Eero 70 Years!
26 Jan Helsinki, Kanneltalo Helsinki (at 14.00)
27 Jan Helsinki, Malmitalo Helsinki (at 15.00)
28 Jan Helsinki, Vuotalo (at 19.00)
Pre-tickets: Lippupalvelu
Kanneltalo and Malmitalo 14,50 € / 7,50
Vuotalo 20 € / 16 € (incl. service fees)