Sax player Timo Lassy and the gospel choir Higher Ground join forces in a unique concert at Paavalinkirkko 1 December. The concert belongs to the autumn programme of We Jazz, giving a preview of the upcoming We Jazz 2014 jazz week, kicked off just one week after the concert.
December will be opened aptly with a dose of spiritual jazz, when one of the leading Finnish jazzers, saxophonist Timo Lassy, is joined by Higher Ground, the most powerful gospel choir that Finland has to offer. The collaborative concert takes place at 7:00PM at Paavalinkirkko in Vallila, and it is the first time that the artists appear on stage together. The concert programme consists of new material composed by Lassy specifically for the choir coupled with select classic Negro spirituals in new arrangements. In addition to Lassy’s sax and the choir’s vocal power we will hear Henry Mäntylä’s piano and Zarkus Poussa’s percussion.
Sax player Timo Lassy is among those Finnish jazz artists that both critics and the audience keep close tabs on. In addition to his inimitable Timo Lassy Band, he is known from U-Street All Stars and The Five Corners Quintet. Founded in 2006 and conducted by Hanna-Maria Helenius, Higher Ground is a Finnish gospel choir of 25 singers. The core of their repertoire is built of classic funk and gospel numbers. The choir is known for their engaging church concerts, collaboration projects with some of Finland’s leading artists and TV appearances in such programmes as Tähdet, tähdet, Tanssii tähtien kanssa, Kuorosota and the Red Nose Day concert.
The concert is the third preview event for the We Jazz 2014 jazz week, organised 8 – 13 December. Organised by the Helsinki-based creative office We Jazz, the event will take place around Helsinki at seven different venues, presenting both Finnish and international top jazz.
See the programme in its entirety on http://wejazz.fi/2014
We Jazz 2014 Preview #3: Timo Lassy & Higher Ground
Mon 1 Dec 2014 at 7:00
Paavalinkirkko (Sammatintie 5, Helsinki)
Tickets 25,50 / 15,00 €, pre-tickets: Tiketti
Free entry for holders of We Jazz season ticket
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/721686764572498/
Partners & supporters: Image, Web-veistämö Oy, Unifilm Oy, Goethe-Institut Finnland, City of Helsinki Cultural Office, Jenny & Antti Wihuri foundation, Finnish Music Foundation, Music Finland, the jazz department of the Sibelius Academy.
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