The acclaimed Finnish artist publishes a book, entitled Jazzin meining, this April on Finnish Aviador Publishing. The book comprises historically significant material, some of which previously unpublished. Book launch parties will be organised in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere.
One of the cornerstones of Finnish cultural life, M. A. Numminen, publishes a new book that dips deep into his own relationship with jazz music. Published on Aviador and entitled Jazzin meining, the book comprises Numminen’s old and new musings about jazz and a number of photos taken by the young amateur photographer Numminen of such legends of jazz as Thelonious Monk, Count Basie and Duke Ellington during their visits to Helsinki. Despite the strongly personal accounts, the book adds a valuable chapter to the written history of Finnish jazz life. The book will come out on 13 April, followed by launch parties in Turku on the same day, Helsinki on the following day and Tampere on 28 April.
M. A. Numminen discovered jazz in the 1950s in his native municipality, Somero. Having become initiated into jazz by such radio programmes as The Voice of America, Numminen soon found himself on the drummer’s seat of a local jazz orchestra. His own playing experiences as a member of the bands Tomas Park Quartet, Nalle Puh Big Band and, eventually, Uusrahvaanomainen Jatsiorkesteri (Neo-Vulgar Jazz Orchestra) form one of the major focuses of the book, while the other is undoubtedly its pictorial offerings. Numminen’s camera has captured some of the most influential bands of jazz history at the Helsinki Hall of Culture and the Exposition Hall in the sixties: in addition to Monk, Basie and Ellington, the book includes previously unpublished, vivid shots of e.g. John Coltrane, Art Blakey and Quincy Jones on stage with their bands.
“I borrowed the equipment from the Somero-based professional photographer, Olavi Virtanen,” says Numminen in the preface of the book. “The camera, a Canon F1, had been placed on a camera stand made by Virtanen himself. It was an impressive-looking contrivance and made people take me for a professional. These photos are now finally published, more than fifty years after they were taken.”
Prose texts commissioned from Numminen by the Helsinki-based We Jazz Festival in the years 2013-2015 and included in the book represent Numminen’s thoughts on the state of jazz today. Numminen has acted as the patron of the festival since the beginning, opening it each year in his inimitable style. A handful of the photos now published in the book were displayed at last year’s We Jazz Festival, and We Jazz and its artistic director Matti Nives have been involved in the making of the book at several stages from throwing around ideas to its layout.
”Jazzin meining is a great next chapter in our publication series that was started with the Django Reinhardt biography two years ago,” says Vesa Tompuri of Aviador Kustannus. “It’s a privilege to be involved in bringing Numminen’s ideas about jazz and his for a long time private photo cache to the audience.”
A book launch party will be organised in three cities: in Turku on 13 April and in Tampere on 28 April, performing in the latter with his long-time comrade and partner in music, Pedro Hietanen. In Helsinki, Numminen will take to the stage with Uusrahvaanomainen Jatsiorkesteri. Djangomania and Hot Heros will join the parties in Turku and Tampere, respectively. In addition to the book, Numminen’s semicentennial career will be celebrated at the events.
M.A. Numminen: Jazzin meining
Aviador Publishing 2016 (ISBN: 978-952-7063-09-5), publication date 13 April 2016
Hardback edition, photographs
Number of pages: 120
Jazzin meining -julkaisutilaisuudet
Wed 13 Apr at 19 (press conference at 18)
Turku, Bar Vino (Humalistonkatu 8a)
M.A. Numminen & Pedro Hietanen
Djangomania
Tickets: 15 € pre-tickets / 17 € at the door
Thu 14 Apr at19 (press conference at 18)
Helsinki, Ravintola Kaisaniemi (Kaisaniementie 6)
Uusrahvaanomainen Jatsiorkesteri
Tickets: 19 € pre-tickets / 22 € at the door
Thu 28 Apr at 21 (press conference at 20)
Tampere, Vastavirta-klubi (Pispalan Valtatie 39)
M.A. Numminen & Pedro Hietanen
Hot Heros
Tickets: 10€
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