Liberty Ship’s tour to end in Tampere Jazz Happening Liberty Ship, an avant-garde jazz quartet with saxophonist Esa Pietilä at the helm, will go on a five-concert tour around Finland. The anchor will eventually be dropped at Tampere Jazz Happening, which hosts also the annual National Jazz Convention this year. The Finnish Jazz Federation's Yrjö jazz award will be presented to a distinguished jazz musician at the convention.
Liberty Ship, founded in 2012, explores the deep waters of free jazz and improvised music. This group, led by veteran sax player and composer Esa Pietilä represents contemporary Finnish jazz at its most creative. The debut album Approaching came out on Eclipse Music in November 2013, and it was selected as one of the releases of the year by the New York Jazz Record Magazine.
Esa Pietilä (b. 1964), the captain of this fearless vessel, is known for his highly original style, with roots deep in the nutritious soil of free jazz and avant-garde. His experience as both saxophonist and composer ranges from solo concerts to big band line-ups, encompassing everything in between. During his career, he has also collaborated with some of the biggest names of improvised music, both Finnish and international.
Esa Pietilä – tenor saxophone
Aki Rissanen – piano
Antti Lötjönen - bass
Olavi Louhivuori – drums
Tour dates:
28 Oct Kajaani, Kouta-Sali at 7:00PM
29 Oct Joensuu, Konservatorio at 7:00PM
30 Oct Helsinki, Lavaklubi at 7:00PM
31 Oct Turku, Turun seudun musiikkiopisto at 7:00PM
1 Nov Tampere Jazz Happening, at Telakka at 9:00PM
(Photo: Maarit Kytöharju)
Valtakunnalliset Jazzpäivät (National Jazz Convention)
Valtakunnalliset Jazzpäivät (National Jazz Convention), initiated in 1967, is an annual jazz event, organised in a changing location and with a different member association each year. At Jazzpäivät, the Finnish Jazz Federation holds its general annual meeting and grants an accomplished Finnish jazz musician with the Yrjö prize. The Yrjö is the most prestigious jazz award and the biggest acknowledgement that a jazz musician can receive for his or her work in Finland. The material Yrjö prize is a work of art, made by an artist native of the city in which the Jazzpäivät takes place that particular year.
In 2013, Jazzpäivät was organised in Oulu and the Yrjö prize was given to pianist Kari Ikonen. Also, Yleisradio (Finnish Broadcasting Company) grants its own Varjo-Yrjö to an individual or a body for a significant contribution to the Finnish jazz culture. In 2013, this acknowledgement was received by TUM Records, ran by Petri Haussila.
The Yrjö prize winner 2014 will be announced on 31 October at 7:00PM at Pakkahuone, and the awarded musician will also perform live at the same event with his or her group.
Tampere Jazz Happening & Valtakunnalliset Jazzpäivät
Tampere: Tullikamarin Klubi and Pakkahuone, Telakka 30 Oct – 2 Nov 2014
Tickets, programme and further information: www.tamperemusicfestivals.fi/jazz/