The tight-knit duo counts on the power of improvisation and creates their music in the moment. Their upcoming performance at Sellosali belongs to an 8-concert Finnish tour, produced by the agency Free Sounds, Free Voices.
Accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen, one of the major forces in the sphere of Finnish experimental music, and the acclaimed French drummer Eric Echampard return to the stage together. Their collaborative partnership started as early as in 2000, so talking about a telepathic communication hardly falls short of the truth. Their previous tours have been lauded by critics, and this January and February they will give eight concerts around Finland, closing the tour at Sellosali, Espoo, on 4 February. This concert is the only chance to experience Pohjonen-Echampard in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
The biggest cornerstones of their expression are intensity and expansion of musical ideas born in the now. The virtuoso Pohjonen’s shamanistic energy combined with Echampard’s acute, clockwork-like drumming make a combo that creates their own path as they walk. So far they have issued one album, the 2005 Uumen.
Composer and virtuoso accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen (b. 1964) is a distinguished and highly individual figure in the field of Finnish music. He is known for several projects and musical concepts that aim at testing the limits of his instrument. An internationally recognised artist, Pohjonen has released 10 solo albums in total. Eric Echampard (b. 1970) is a French drummer who has established himself in the past fifteen years in European jazz circles. His key collaborators include guitarist Marc Ducret and pianist Andy Emler, in addition to whom he has appeared on stage with some of the giants of European jazz.
Free Voices, Free Sounds, managed by the award-winning producer Charles Gil, has carried the torch of jazz and improvised music since 1996, by developing musical exchange between France, Finland, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries. The main focus is on coordinating tours in Finland and France. A member association of the Finnish Jazz Federation and the AJC, a network of French jazz festivals, the agency collaborates with a wide network of promoters and other players in the field of European jazz.
Kimmo Pohjonen & Eric Echampard
Wed 4 Feb at 7:00PM, Sellosali (Soittoniekanaukio 1, Espoo)
Tickets starting from 19,50 €, pre-tickets at Lippupiste. Tickets at the door 20 €.
Kimmo Pohjonen & Eric Echampard on Free Voices, Free Sounds tour:
Tue 27 Jan Jyväskylä, Tanssisali Lutakko at 8:00PM (doors at 7:00PM)
Thu 29 Jan Tampere, Klubi at 8:00 (doors at 7:00PM)
Fri 30 Jan Hämeenlinna, Suisto klo 20 (doors at 7:00PM)
Sun 1 Feb Raahe, Raahesali at 5:00PM
Tue 3 Feb Pietarsaari, Schaumansali at 7:00PM / open rehearsal and artist meeting at 4:00PM
http://vapaataanet.fi
http://facebook.com/vapaataanet
Supported by The French Institute of Finland and the French Ministry of Culture and Communication
Partner: Kumu drums