Sointi Jazz Orchestra will perform Maria Schneider Orchestra's Sky Blue album in its entirety at Tiivistämö on April 4, 2024. The repertoire will be heard live in Finland for the first time.
In April, there is a rare opportunity to hear compositions by American multiple Grammy-winning artist Maria Schneider performed live by Sointi Jazz Orchestra. Schneider has led her own Maria Schneider Orchestra since 1992, which in addition to the traditional big band lineup, includes an accordionist, singer, and percussionist. Saxophonists also play several alternative instruments.
"Few ensembles can adapt to the instrumentation required by the original material," says Rasmus Soini, artistic director of Sointi Jazz Orchestra and the conductor of the concert. "Sointi aims to bring this unique and rarely heard jazz orchestral material to its audience."
At the concert in Helsinki's Tiivistämö, Sointi Jazz Orchestra will perform Maria Schneider Orchestra's Sky Blue album (2007) in its entirety for the first time in Finland. The album includes compositions like Cerulean Skies, which won a Grammy Award in 2008, Aires de Lando, drawing from Peruvian rhythms, and The Pretty Road, with its almost pop-like melody.
"Schneider's works are magical compositions that take you through various fascinating worlds. It's fascinating how the same ensemble can sound so different in different compositions! The music is full of bliss and energy, to the point where you might forget to breathe while being drawn into it. The melodies are very lyrical, and just when you think you've reached the peak, there's a new level in the composition that raises the intensity even further," Soini explains.
Sointi Jazz Orchestra is known for its performance of original material. The concert is a tribute to Maria Schneider and her ensemble, which has served as one of the inspirations for Sointi Jazz Orchestra. The band performed the program as a live stream concert during the COVID-19 lockdown in the spring of 2021 but wanted to replicate the performance for a live audience now.
"This music is definitely at its best when experienced in person," Soini concludes.
Established in 2013, Sointi Jazz Orchestra is known for its distinctive and surprising sound that revitalizes the big band tradition with unconventional instrumentation and fresh arrangements that incorporate alternative instruments. The band annually presents new concert programs tailored to its style, featuring soloists ranging from distinctive artists like Juhani Aaltonen to Marius Neset and from Matti Johannes Koivu to Maria Faust. SJO's concerts take the audience on a musical journey that captivates from the first minute to the last chord.
Sointi Jazz Orchestra: Sky Blue - The Music of Maria Schneider
Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 7:00 PM @ Tiivistämö, Helsinki
Concert duration approximately 75 minutes
Tickets in advance from Tiketti 23/16/10€ or at the door 25/20/10€
Image: Whit Lane