The Helsinki-based Kokko Quartet hits the road for Australia this December. The tour comprises six concerts in major Australian cities.
The Helsinki-based jazz group Kokko Quartet will perform at various clubs in Australia during December 2015. The tour is organised in collaboration with Australia Northern Europe Liaisons, founded by Henk Van Leeuwen. Van Leeuwen has been promoting Finnish jazz acts around the world since the 1990's. He has brought many top jazz artists from Finland to perform in Australia, starting from Trio Töykeät and recently including groups such as Sun Trio, Ilmiliekki Quartet and Herd.
Henk Van Leeuwen discovered Kokko Quartet in Helsinki in October 2014 at the Jazz Finland Festival music export event.
Kokko Quartet's Australian Tour Schedule:
03/12 - Melbourne Bennetts Lane Jazz Club (Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival)
04/12 - Castlemaine Old Gaol
05/12 - Brisbane Jazz Club
07/12 - Canberra Embassy of Finland
08/12 - Sydney Foundry 616 Jazz Club
09/12 - Melbourne Paris Cat Jazz Club
Kokko Quartet will release their second album Orient Express in June 2016.
Kokko Quartet:
Kaisa Siirala, saxophones and flutes
Johanna Pitkänen, piano
Timo Tuppurainen, bass
Risto Takala, drums
"...The music flows gently and smoothly, breaking boundaries between different musical genres. In a sensuous and suddle way, Scandinavian sounds unite with hints of tango as well as Indian, Arabic and Cuban atmosphere." - Osku Rajala Jazzrytmit
"New European names that impressed included the film music inspired mix of trumpet, cello and accordeon of Oliver's Cinema from the Netherlands, Germany's Eric Schaefer & The Shredsz and the Zodiak Trio and the Kokko Quartet from Finland." – Jon Newey from Jazzwise Magazine at Jazzahead! 2013