The artistic management of Porvoo Jazz Festival ry is in for a renewal. Drummer Jaska Lukkarinen, who has been the association's artistic director for eight years, will step back as he focuses on his doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy. In the fall season of 2023, saxophonist-composer and woodwind specialist Max Zenger will start as the organization's new artistic director.
In addition to the more traditional saxophones, clarinet and flute, Max Zenger has also excelled in playing rarer instruments such as contrabass clarinet and bass saxophone. Having received his professional training from the Sibelius Academy, Zenger is a familiar face from the ranks of many Finnish jazz bands, such as Kaisa's Machine, Perillä and Mika Kallio Gong Odyssey. In addition, he has several bands of his own, such as Maxxxtet, Max Zenger Globus and Freezer, where he works as a band leader and composer. This year he will release his tenth album containing his own compositions.
Zenger's idea-rich, unique and versatile playing has also been noted in competitions. He was selected as Pori Jazz Festival's rising talent in 2018, Turku Jazz Festival's artist of the year 2018, and Globus won the European Broadcasting Jazz Ensemble Competition 2018. In addition to being a musician, Zenger is one of the founding members of Turku-based Flame Jazz Records.
The fall of 2023 is particularly significant for Zenger because, in addition to his artistic leadership, he will also begin working as the second alto saxophonist for the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.
Porvoo Jazz Festival will take place this year from September 29 to October 1. Its program has been designed by Jaska Lukkarinen and Zenger in collaboration. The autumn 2023 clubs are already completely the result of Zenger's artistic choices. The program of the festival will be published on Wednesday 24 May.
Photo: Petri Anttila