Vibeist Panu Savolainen returns to Lavaklubi with changing guests. This spring’s edition will be kicked off with folk artists Maria Kalaniemi and Timo Alakotila.
The Panurama club series, hosted by vibraphonist Panu Savolainen, will return to the Finnish National Theatre’s Lavaklubi this spring. Launched two years ago, in spring 2014, it features a number of key names from across the board of Finnish music scene, taking place on the first Friday of the month from February until May.
This year’s edition begins with a folk theme as Savolainen is joined by two of the very best-known Finnish folk artists, accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and pianist Timo Alakotila. The trio debuted on stage at Espoo’s Juurijuhla Festival on April 2015 to great acclaim. The upcoming Panurama concert will offer a mix of Kalaniemi and Alakotila’s duo compositions and Savolainen’s originals.
The second guest to join forces with the host will be Aki Rissanen, a familiar face from the lauded trumpeter Verneri Pohjola’s quartet. The duo will dive into the minimalistic world of Rissanen’s latest album Sturm. April will see the solemn presence of Johann Sebastian Bach land on Lavaklubi along with the alto violinist Atte Kilpeläinen of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and Meta4, the most internationally acclaimed of all Finnish string quartets. The season will be closed with a bang on 6 May when Savolainen and his fine confreres from the vanguard of Finnish jazz, drummer Teppo Mäkynen, guitarist Teemu Viinikainen and bassist Jori Huhtala, tackle the host’s new compositions for jazz quartet.
Panu Savolainen (b. 1990) represents the sharpest edge of Finland’s young jazz generation. Best-known perhaps for his European Jazz Competition-winning group HERD, the Lahti native was selected as the Pori Jazz Artist of the Year in 2010. Savolainen graduated with his MA degree from the Jazz Department of the Sibelius Academy. In addition to his career as a professional musician, he has hosted the popular club series HERD and Panurama at the Lavaklubi of the Finnish National Theatre since 2012. He also acts as the Artistic Director of the Kalkkiranta Jazz Festival. 2015 saw Savolainen venture into a new area by compiling the programme for a special concert in honour of composer Toivo Kärki’s 100th anniversary. In the concert, Savolainen and his trio fronted five leading Finnish symphony orchestras conducted by Jaakko Kuusisto.
Panurama Club Series in Spring 2016
at Lavaklubi, the Finnish National Theatre (Läntinen Teatterikuja 1)
Fri 5 Feb at 21 w / Maria Kalaniemi (accordion) & Timo Alakotila (piano)
Fri 4 Mar at 21 w / Aki Rissanen (keys)
Fri 1 Apr at 21 w / Atte Kilpeläinen (alto violin)
Fri 6 May at 21 w / Teppo Mäkynen (drums), Teemu Viinikainen (guitar) & Jori Huhtala (bass)
+ Panu Savolainen the vibraphone.
Tickets 12 / 8 €, pre-tickets available for purchase at the box office of the Finnish National Theatre.
Season ticket to all Panurama concerts 40 €.
www.panusavolainen.com
www.facebook.com/panusavolainenvibes
www.lavaklubi.fi