Jazz Finland, Sibelius Academy Jazz Music Department at Uniarts Helsinki, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Finnish Musicians’ Union launched a new international jazz residency program in August 2021. The program is proud to feature bassist Linda May Han Oh as the second artist-in-residence for two weeks in October.
Award-winning bassist-composer Linda May Han Oh (b. 1984) has quickly established herself as one of the most sought-after jazz musicians. Born in Malaysia, raised in Western Australia and now living and working in New York City, she has shared stages with the likes of Joe Lovano, Vijay Ayer and Kenny Barren, and is a member of the Pat Metheny Quartet. Parallel to her career as bassist, Oh has also established herself as a critically acclaimed composer and band leader.
In 2019 she released her fifth album Aventurine, which innovatively combines contemporary composition and improvisation with string and vocal ensemble textures.
The Jazz Finland Residency will help create and strengthen networks between international and Finnish jazz professionals, as well as providing opportunities for new creative collaborations and ideas. The residency co-organisers believe that extended artist visits help develop the Finnish jazz scene in a diverse way through advancing international concert activities, strengthening international ties and increasing the access to top level masterclass teaching in Finland. The aim is to establish the residency program as an ongoing and permanent collaboration model, which will enable top international jazz artists to teach and give concerts in Finland.
The leading idea behind the residency program is to facilitate extensive networking with Finnish jazz professionals, in addition to supporting the participants’ own artistic work. The residency includes giving masterclasses at the Sibelius Academy Jazz Department, as well as performing with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The residency concept also enables local professional jazz musicians to initiate collaborations with the Artist-in-Residence.
On the 5th of October, Linda May Han Oh takes the stage at the G Livelab in Tampere and on the 8th of October at the Flame Jazz Club in Turku.
On the 15th of October, she headlines a concert with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra at the Korjaamo Culture Factory. The concert is conducted by Rasmus Soini.
Further residency partners include Music Finland, Finnish Jazz Musicians’ Association and the Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP).
Read more: https://lindamayhanoh.com/
Photo: Shervin Lainez