The fifteenth edition of the annual Jazz-Espa concert series drew over 1,500 people to the Espa stage last week. The free open air concerts portrayed six topical, Finnish jazz acts from Monday to Saturday and ended with a huge success of the JazzPiknik mini festival on Sunday at the restaurant mbar's terrace on Lasipalatsi square. The Jazz-Espa audience was matched by the JazzPiknik audience and there was even something described as a "jazz riot"...
The main organizer, Finnish Jazz Federation is happy with this summer's events.
- The host of JazzPiknik, Radio Helsinki's Njassa, launched a new term "jazz riot" after the fierce dancing and cheering on Dalindèo's gig on Sunday, says Jazz Federation's producer Annika Mustonen laughing. The pun was probably intended towards Saturday's Kallio Block Party, where over 10,000 people partied on the streets without any police reports.
- Well, of course it's heart-warming that we can provide quality jazz music for many kinds of audiences. Jazz-Espa and JazzPiknik have always run smoothly and without any problems with the venues or nearby neighbours. The events are, to many, the most awaited concerts of the year. For the most part for their content and atmosphere, but also because they're free and available for anyone. We hope to continue both, the fifteen-year-old Espa and especially the new, third-time JazzPiknik tradition.
Jazz-Espa took place on July 28 - August 2 on the Espa Stage, featuring William Suvanne Quartet, Sami Linna Quartet, Eliina Mäkiranta Quartet, Equally Stupid, Eero Koivistoinen Quartet, Elena & The Rom Ensemble. Jazz-Espa is produced by the Finnish Jazz Federation and supported by the Finnish Music Foundation MES and the City of Helsinki Cultural Office. The partners include Pop & Jazz Conservatory, Restaurant Kappeil and Pianoplan Ari Harenko.
JazzPiknik on August 3rd featured Virta, Manuel Dunkel Quartet, Dalindèo, Timo Lassy Band feat. Joyce Elaine Yuille and We Jazz DJs. JazzPiknik is a co-production of the Finnish Jazz Federation and mbar. The event is supported by the the Finnish Music Foundation MES, the City of Helsinki and organized in co-operation with the Lasipalatsi Media Centre Ltd.