Kansi Auki Piano Jazz Festival is organised for the fourth time on 13-16 November in Helsinki. The fourth edition of the festival offers a number of premieres by Finnish artists and brings some of the most interesting European pianists to town.
The festival opens with a premiere of a new piano concerto by Jussi Lampela. Piano concerto no. 1, entitled “Yllättäviä kohtaamisia” (Surprising Encounters), will be performed by Jussi Lampela Nonet with Iiro Rantala on the piano as their soloist. Lampela has been influenced by both jazz and the classical concerto. Drawing from the history of jazz shows in such elements as improvisation, however, in the manner of classical tradition, we are talking about sheet music here. Lampela has been inspired particularly by the 1920s, when composers were seeking for new ideas. Also, a rarely-seen line-up in the sphere of jazz highlights the coming together of jazz and classical music.
Another strong premiere comes from Sid Hille Contemporary Collective, whose album-launching tour celebrating the new release Outer Space (from the perspective of my record player) ends at the Kansi Auki Festival. Contemporary Collective seems to undergo a rebirth in every concert. Composer Hille does not want to give dogmas to his ensemble to follow, but, rather his sketch-like compositions act as springboards into new, improvised possible worlds. This method requires exceptional musicians, such as bass clarinettist Heikki Nikula, cellist Markus Hohti, guitarist Teemu Viinikainen in addition to pianist-composer Hille himself.
In Kansi Auki club concerts we are entertained by Eastfield Quartet, led by keyboardist Vili Itäpelto, and Ragtime Rebels with percussionist Antti Ohenoja at the helm.
One of the key objectives is to reach towards the Continent and bring European top piano artists to Finland. This year the festival is proud to present Thomas Encho and Rémi Collin from France, Volker Bertelmann a.k.a. Hauschka from Germany and David Hellbock from Austria.
Thomas Enhco (b. 1988) is one of the fastest-rising stars in European jazz arenas, and in his home country, France, he is regarded as the most promising jazz pianist. A strong command of the history of music shines through Enhcos’s playing where a strongly modal feeling shakes hands with French impressionism in a disarming way. This young maestro is well-versed in the violin and composition, too, and his repertoire consists mainly of original compositions. Enhco will now be seen in Finland for the first time.
Pianist and composer Rémi Collin (b. 1991) is another artist to give his first show in Finland at the Kansi Auki Festival. Collin is an energetic artist with a broad spectrum, and both his music and performance seem to carry one glorious message: everything is possible. Collin begun training classical piano at the age of 10 and has played his way through the usual path of a jazz pianist, from strong traditions to a greater self-awareness and own voice.
Hauschka’s (b. 1966) debut on the Finnish stages occurred last summer at the Flow Festival. Known as a specialist of the prepared piano and for his preference for effects and electronics, Hauschka’s music embraces the now. Every live performance tells a different story, which is why every definition of his music fails to do him full justice. Hauschka is the art of presence and intimate flow of interaction.
Iiro Rantala, the festival’s artistic director’s, last minute discovery, David Helbock (b. 1984) comes from Austria. Helbock’s pianism is bursts with energy and joy, and his bold, even slightly sassy, attitude towards the formalities of jazz is refreshing, in its candidness and outspokenness.
Similarly to previous years, the audience will have a chance to meet some of the artists. Jussi Lampela talks about the concerto in the context of jazz music on Thursday, M. A. Numminen dissects jazz music in his inimitable way on Friday and the audience will get to see piano tuner Pekka Savolainen in action on Saturday.
The festival closes with a concert, Tatsia jatsiin, that is aimed at a younger audience. Pianist Iiro Rantala and actress Lotta Kuusisto have been working with the students of Itä-Helsingin musiikkikoulu (Music School of East Helsinki), and now they present the fruits of their labour in a concert. On stage 30 children and youngsters.
The concerts take place, like in previous years, at Musiikkiteatteri Kapsäkki and restaurant Allotria’s intimate club milieu. Tickets are now available for purchase at Kapsäkki and Lippupiste.
Details on http://www.kapsakki.fi/kansiauki/
http://www.thomasenhco.com
http://remicollin.com
http://hauschka-net.de
http://www.davidhelbock.com
http://www.jussilampela.com
http://www.sidhille.com
http://iirorantala.fi