Award-winning pianist and composer Iro Haarla will perform her latest ballads with her jazz quintet in three concerts in February-March. The first public performance will be February 25 at Joensuu's Musiikkitalvi and the quintet will perform afterwards on March 7 at G Livelab in Tampere and March 8 in Espoo's Sello Hall.
"Ballads are like wordless love songs, where the important thing is not the number of notes, but their weight. They are encounters of extremes, a dialogue between the storm and the calm, in which the performing band plays a central role. That's why I've chosen players with whom I've collaborated for years for my quintet. With their deep interpretations and harmonies, these players bring my compositions to life and bring a stirring power of expression along with beauty to them. There will be an arresting feeling of timelessness and peace," Iro Haarla describes the concert.
The basis of the performing group is the Iro Haarla Quartet, which has performed extensively in Finland in recent years, e.g. at Pori Jazz and Tampere Jazz Happening. The sound of the quartet is strengthened and brightened by trumpeter Tomi Nikku.
Iro Haarla's music has become internationally known through recordings made for ECM Records, Tum Records and Svart Records, as well as works for the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. Haarla has been awarded the Finnish Jazz Federations's Yrjö award in 2006, the Emma awards for the best jazz album of the year in 2005 and 2011, the Ted Curson award / Pori Jazz Festival 2018 and Music Archive Finlands's Finnish Jazz Legend no.35 award in 2020.
Tomi Nikku trumpet
Pepa Päivinen soprano, baritone, and tenor saxophone
Iro Haarla piano, compositions
Ulf Krokfors double bass
Markku Ounaskari drums
Sat 25.2. at 18:00 Joensuu Conservatory / Joensuun Kulttuurikimara 2023 / org. Jazzkerho 76
Tue 7.3. at 19:00 Tampere, G Livelab
Wed 8.3. at 19 Espoo, Sellosali
Tour production: Vapaat äänet
Photo: Maarit Kytöharju