Established last autumn, Kuopio Music Gear kicks off their first spring season confidently with Hans Olding – Jaska Lukkarinen Trio’s concert on 15 January. Kuopio’s Satamankulma will again play host to a series of jazz concerts, seeing the likes of Kasperi Sarikoski & Nuance, Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans and Fifth Avenue take the stage over the spring.
The spring season of Kuopio Music Gear will start earlier than was planned when Hans Olding – Jaska Lukkarinen Quartet agreed to stop by on their way to Koli Jazz Festival. An exemplar of inter-Scandinavian collaboration, the quartet will make a nice, swinging start for the season. On the bass is Mathias Wellin, and like the drummer Lukkarinen he will now be revisiting Kuopio after September’s gig with Riitta Paakki Trio. On the sax we will be hearing Manuel Dunkel of, for example, UMO.
Hans Olding - Jaska Lukkarinen Quartet
Hans Olding - Jaska Lukkarinen Quartet released their debut, Far From Rio, almost exactly a year ago. Far from Rio perhaps physically, the atmosphere of the city is, however, firmly present in the compelling swing and melodicity of the group's music. The album revolves around such themes as love of jazz and related genres, the restless existence of a touring musician and life up north, in Scandinavia, far from the madding crowd. Nevertheless, it is travels that have inspired the group to write and the result could be described as modern European jazz music.
In Kuopio, Manuel Dunkel will, exceptionally, stand in for saxophonist Karl-Martin Almqvist. Some compositions by the substituting sax man will be heard in addition to the quartet’s own material.
Hans Olding – guitar
Jaska Lukkarinen – drums
Manuel Dunkel – sax
Mattias Welin – double bass
Kuopio Music Gear Spring Season 2016
At least five concerts will be organised by the association this spring, with an emphasis on younger groups and international collaborations.
In January, Kasperi Sarikoski Nuance, led by the eponymous trombonist, stops by on their Finnish Jazz Federation tour; while in February we will be in for some freer expression when the Free Voices Free Sounds tour brings Finnish Pepa Päivinen & Good Romans and French Théo Ceccaldi Trio to town. March will see some local talent take the stage in the form of Moment’s Quartet, and in April, when the limelight will be turned to Augur Ensemble, internationality is the keyword. Finally, in May, the beat of the Big Apple will be conjured up by Fifth Avenue with their 90s-influenced modern jazz sound.
An additional concert may be scheduled for June. Further information will be released later.
All Kuopio Music Gear concerts take place at Kallamarina of Satamankulma on Wednesdays at 7:00PM, with the exception of the Free Voices, Free Sounds concert, which is organised on Friday 12 February. KMG may offer some other little jazz treats at other times, too.
Concerts do not have an age limit and all under 12-year-olds will be admitted free of charge. Pre-tickets are now available for purchase.