The City of Lahti’s organisational change in its events and culture sector and the reorganisation of its grant practices cast a long shadow over the Jazztori festival, which has been organised continuously since 1989. Lahti Big Band ry (LBB), as the rights holder of the festival, was forced to seriously consider whether continuing under increasingly stringent conditions was possible at all. In the end, it was decided to keep the established event alive, but due to delayed funding decisions, the date had to be moved from September to November.
Despite the city’s support having been almost halved, a fairly full programme is promised for 10–15 November, built with the support of partners. LBB itself will produce seven events, Lahti Jazz ry will be involved in 2–3 events, and Lahti Poetry Marathon has been challenged to join in by organising an interdisciplinary evening of poetry and jazz. The festival will conclude with Louis Malle’s film Elevator to the Gallows, shown on film by Reel Lahti, whose iconic soundtrack was created by Miles Davis. Other accompanying programme is still being developed.
Musically, the festival offers a broad spectrum of different moods. The starting point is Lahti Jazz Club, where Nina Mya interprets Burt Bacharach’s compositions accompanied by a trio. The centenary of John Coltrane’s birth is honoured with an intimate solo concert by Joakim Berghäll. Mikael Saastamoinen and Joonas Tuuri offer a rare treat when a duo consisting of two double basses tests the expressive limits of the instrument. Rosettes, who most recently thrilled audiences at the Saltfest and Flow festivals, add soul and R&B grooves to the mix, Hot Jazz Oh La La takes us into the atmosphere of the 1930s and 1940s, and LBB naturally takes care of the big band section by diving into the depths of the “Great American Songbook.”
A family concert to bring young people along
The cherry on top is a family concert from the Jazz Suomi 100 anniversary tour produced by the Finnish Jazz Federation, where the programme curated by Teppo Mäkynen will be performed, alongside the drummer himself, by Eero Koivistoinen, who is celebrating his 80th anniversary, Kaisa Mäensivu, Mikko Antila and Maja Mannila. The event is hoped to attract plenty of open-minded young music enthusiasts. At the end of Saturday evening, there will also be a jam session, which the musicians of Hot Jazz Oh La La have promised to get started. Perhaps someone will even find their way there from farther afield.
From Thursday to Saturday, 12–14 November, the venues will be Pikkuteatteri and the Tirra stage in the iconic setting of Loviisankatu 8, in the immediate vicinity of the Travel Centre. For example, from Helsinki Central Railway Station, the venue can be reached by express train in just under an hour, and by commuter train in roughly an hour.
The festival’s website provides more information about the diverse programme throughout the festival week. In addition to individual concert and gig tickets, day tickets and a festival pass are also available for Friday and Saturday. Advance tickets for most events can be found through Tiketti.