The Finnish Jazz Federation is once again organizing a series of free outdoor concerts at the Esplanade Park stage in Helsinki from July 28 to August 2, 2025. Applications for performers will open on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 10:00 AM and close on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 4:00 PM. You can apply to perform at Jazz-Espa using an online form, accessible via the link at the end of this article.
Renowned saxophonist Eero Koivistoinen and vocalist Nina Mya are set to embark on a joint production tour with the Finnish Jazz Federation and Sublime Music Agency in October and November. The tour will visit Jyväskylä, Petäjävesi, Porvoo, Hyvinkää, and Riihimäki, with a repertoire featuring compositions by both Koivistoinen and Mya, blending traditional jazz with touches of soul and African influences.
The most respected recognitions in the Finnish jazz scene were presented at the Tampere Jazz Happening on Friday, November 1. The Finnish Jazz Federation awarded the Yrjö Award to bassist Antti Lötjönen and honored concert organizer Jari Hytti with the Andania Lifetime Achievement Award. Among young jazz talents, the Jazz Federation acknowledged singer, pianist, and violinist Helmi Antila with the Taimi Award. Promoter Olle Ekman received Yle's Varjo-Yrjö recognition for promoting jazz culture.
Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease, who released their debut album in 2023 and received an Emma nomination, will embark on a Jazz Federation tour from November 1 to 8, 2024. Drawing inspiration from Edith Wharton’s poetry series, the band will kick off the tour with a grand performance at the Tampere Jazz Happening festival on November 1, followed by concerts in Vaasa, Savonlinna, Joensuu, and Porvoo.
The Finnish Jazz Federation will open the artist application for the summer 2025 Jazz-Espa event on its website on Monday, December 2.
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Jaska Lukkarinen Trio will be performing their new Textures program during the Jazz Federation joint production tour in October and November. The tour begins in Loviisa on October 19th, followed by concerts in Savonlinna, Nurmes, Porvoo, Vantaa, and Kotka. The tour will culminate with a performance at the Tampere Jazz Happening festival on November 2nd.
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Olli Ahvenlahti, who has had an exceptionally extensive and versatile career in Finnish music, turned 75 this year and is celebrating it with a national concert tour organized by the Finnish Jazz Federation from October 8th to 13th. The tour will feature the new Olli Ahvenlahti New Quintet – The Poet Vol. 2, performing jazz-funk compositions from Ahvenlahti’s Mirror Mirror album, which was released in the spring of 2024. The tour begins in Joensuu on October 8th, followed by stops in Kuopio, Lahti, Savonlinna, Raahe, and Tornio.
Saxophonist Adele Sauros’ quartet will be performing in seven locations across Finland this September. Following the release of their latest album, the group embarked on an extensive international tour in the spring of 2024, and their ensemble playing is at its highest level ever.
