Award-winning producer Charles Gil’s Finno-French concert concept Free Voices, Free Sounds celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016. The big year is kicked off with an extensive double-header tour that sees Théo Ceccaldi Trio, led by the eponymous violinist, and Finnish trio Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans perform around Finland.
Since 1996, Free Voices, Free Sounds, managed by producer Charles Gil, has been forging a bridge between Finnish and French jazz cultures successfully. The agency will celebrate its 20th anniversary accordingly -- by co-producing a 14-concert Finnish tour for French Théo Ceccaldi Trio and Finnish Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans with the Finnish Jazz Federation. The groups play altogether five times together and give a number of concerts individually. The only concert that the two trios will be playing in the Helsinki metropolitan area takes place at the Sello Hall on Thursday 11 February.
Théo Ceccaldi Trio, formed by the eponymous violinist, guitarist Guillaume Akninen and cellist Valentin Ceccaldi, hail from Orléans, France. Founded in 2010, they perform intensive and aerial chamber jazz, combining strings and guitar to original effect. The group has released two albums Carrousel (2012) and Can You Smile? (2015), both on label Ayler Records and to great international acclaim. Active live performers, Ceccaldi’s team was selected for the acclaimed French concert programme for young talents, Jazz Migration. The leader himself is a member in the French Orchestre National de Jazz, led by Olivier Benoît.
Saxophonist Pepa Päivinen, guitarist llari Filander and drummer Jussi Miettola have existed as trio Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans since 2012. Like that of their French confreres, their sound could be described as extremely original. In addition to the traditional tenor sax, Päivinen plays the bass clarinet and different flutes, while Filander and Miettola expand their sonic worlds with the help of electronic effects. The trio say that they will offer the listener “a psychophysical leap into no-man’s land where the mind is free to wander”. So far they have released one album together; the 2014 Ghost of a Dog, which was met with praise from the music media. Pepa Päivinen – a former member of the legendary free jazz outfit Sound & Fury and a long-standing member of the UMO Jazz Orchestra – is known as an adventurous explorer in the field of jazz and improvised music. Good Romans, formed by Ilari Filander and Jussi Miettola, have released one album as a duo, the 2014 Open This Door, Never Look Back.
Award-winning producer Charles Gil’s agency Free Voices, Free Sounds has promoted a friendly collaborative atmosphere between the jazz and free improv scenes of France, Finland Scandinavia and the Baltic countries for 20 years. The agency co-produces 5-6 tours annually with French players in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries and once a year one Finnish tour with the Finnish Jazz Federation. In 2010 the French Culture Minister bestowed on Gil the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and in 2004 he was awarded with the Varjo Yrjö Prize for notable work for Finnish jazz culture.
Théo Ceccaldi trio and Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans
Thu 11 Feb at 19, Sello Hall (Soittoniekanaukio 1, Espoo)
Tickets starting from 15,00 € (+ service fees), pre-tickets available via Lippupiste.
Tour programme
Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans
Mon 8 Feb at 19 Kerava, Café Intro
Tue 9 Feb at 19 Pori, Validi Karkia Club: Pori Main Library
Tue 16 Feb at 20 Hämeenlinna, Suisto
Théo Ceccaldi trio and Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans
Wed 10 Feb at 19 Turku, Turun seudun musiikkiopisto
Thu 11 Feb at 19 Espoo, Sello Hall
Fri 12 Feb at 19 Kuopio, Satamankulma
Sat 13 Feb at 18 Joensuu, Pakkahuone
Sun 14 Feb at 18 Loviisa, Keskus Centralen
Théo Ceccaldi Trio
Tue 9 Feb at Taidetalo, Loimaa
Tue 16 Feb at 19 Salo, Veturitalli – Salo Art Museum
Wed 17 Feb at 19 Mikkeli, Mikkeli City Theatre
Thu 18 Feb at 19 Oulainen, Kinokulma
Fri 19 Feb at 19 Raahe, Raahe Theatre
Sat 20 Feb at 19 Seinäjoki, Perälänraitti 3 A 1 (private concert)
Sun 21 Feb Viitasaari, Miekkaniemi
Co-production: Finnish Jazz Federation & Free Voices, Free Sounds
Partner: AJC (association Jazzé-Croisé)
Supporters: Adami, Spedidam, Institut Francais, MES
Théo Ceccaldi Trio
Théo Ceccaldi, violin / Guillaume Aknine, electric guitar / Valentin Ceccaldi, cello
Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans
Pepa Päivinen, tenor sax & bass clarinet & flutes / Ilari Filander, electric guitar & effects / Jussi Miettola, drums & effects
http://www.tricollectif.fr/theo-ceccaldi-trio
http://www.goodromans.com