The Finnish Jazz Federation produces or supports tours for 11 bands or artists in 2016. The spring programme starts in January, and now also the fall season is published.
The most visible form of the Jazz Federation's activity is tour production for Finnish bands in Finland. The federation produces 8-10 tours topping some 80 concerts annually, partially in co-operation with artist agencies. Touring the top contemporary ensembles around the country animates the concert scene outside of the Capital Area and also to produce performance opportunities for the musicians.
In all aspects of the federation's functions, they focus to pay attention to the changes in the operation environment. Currently the emphasis is on supporting the managements and concert organizers with the services. In the fall of 2016 the federation provides support for two productions: Mirja Mäkelä Trio and Teddy's West Coasters. Vocalist Mirja Mäkelä produces the first tour herself and We Jazz agency is in charge of the latter.
Finnish Jazz Federation's own, "traditional" tour structure consists of two bands in September - December: vocalist Nina Mya takes her backing quintet on the road first, and pianist Alexi Tuomarila's trio ends the 2016 season in December.
Jazz Federation Tour: Nina Mya 19 Sept – 2 Oct 2016
Nina Mya is the strong voice who has been described as a bridge-builder between old and new vocal jazz. She and her quintet, indeed, brim with old-time glamour and charismatic presence.
Nina Mya’s compositions echo Afro-American gospel and the hard bop and soul jazz of the 1950s and 60s, and as to her style references to such great ladies of jazz as Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson are detectable. But the lyrics come from her pen and the stories from her own life. There is no doubt that with her intense presence, expressive voice, skilful improvisation and sovereign band-leading this vocalist-composer has more than what it takes to be a great lady of jazz in our time.
Nina’s crew is composed of some of Finland’s foremost jazz musicians and when on stage their irrepressible energy and effortless communication reflect the essence of the Afro-American heritage of jazz. In arranging the material for the band Nina has saxophonist Petri Puolitaival as her right hand, and the pair is also in charge of the production. So far Nina Mya has issued two albums: the debut Flying Solo came out in 2012; the sophomore Our Time two years later. In spring 2016 they are to head back to the studio to record the third release whose material, as the vocalist describes, will be “darker in tone than ever before”.
Nina Mya - vocals & conduction
Petri Puolitaival – saxophones, production
Jukka Eskola – trumpet
Henri Mäntylä – piano
Jori Huhtala – bass
Tuomas Timonen – drums
www.ninamya.com
Co-production tour: Mirja Mäkelä Trio 24 Oct - 6 Nov 2016
Vocalist Mirja Mäkelä’s compositions give life to Finnish poetry.
Mirja Mäkelä, vocals
Teemu Viinikainen, guitar
Juho Kivivuori, bass
Co-production tour: Teddy’s West Coasters 14 - 27 Nov 2016
Drummer Teppo “Teddy Rok” Mäkynen’s big orchestra is full of the spirit of the West Coast in 50s and 60s.
Teppo Mäkynen, drums
Antti Lötjönen, bass
Jukka Perko, alto sax
Ville Vannemaa, baritone sax
Jukka Eskola, trumpet
Mikko Karjalainen, trumpet
Miika Jämsä, tuba
Kasper Sarikoski, trombone
Jazz Federation Tour: Alexi Tuomarila Trio 28 Nov – 11 Dec 2016
The end of the touring season 2016 will see the award-winning pianist and his international trio on a long-awaited Finnish tour.
Alexi Tuomarila trio came into being in 2004. Their debut album, Constellation, was issued on the Norwegian label Jazzaway Records in 2005 and saw the group on extensive tours in Finland, Norway and the Benelux countries. It was around this time that doors to big leagues were thrown open for each of the group’s members; the cosmopolitan bandleader Tuomarila garnered prizes in piano contests around Europe, including Monaco, Granada, Avignon and Brussels. The Observer selected him on their list of six future talents.
Soon after, other projects started flooding in and it took as long as eight years before the trio’s sophomore was released. Tomasz Stanko had recruited Tuomarila and Louhivuori into the ranks of his band, while Eilertsen’s time was taken up by Tord Gustavsen’s trio. Their own groups, too, caused their ways to meet and diverge for years. In 2012 Alexi Tuomarila signed a three-album contract with the British label Edition Records, with the first one, entitled Seven Hills, coming out worldwide in 2013. The long-term friendship between the members and the strengthening of their individual voices together and separately has lent the trio’s sound its characteristic density of feeling and ease of communication.
Alexi Tuomarila Trio tell original, humane stories, whose tone ranges from warmth to melancholy. Their compound of touching melodies, subtle rhythm and seamless team-work is sheer joy to the ear.
Alexi Tuomarila - piano
Olavi Louhivuori - drums
Mats Eilertsen - bass
www.alexituomarila.com