The 80-year-old veteran is to appear with the 18-piece in two concerts in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The concert programme will be as special as the occasion, including the premier of the extensive new piece Saarnaaja (The Preacher) and other material composed or arranged specifically for the concert.
Sointi Jazz Orchestra has aimed high when it comes to recruiting the guest soloist for their first collaborative concert: saxophonist-flutist Juhani ”Junnu” Aaltonen counts, no doubt, among Finland’s most iconic jazzers. ”Aaltonen’s fierce improvisation has inspired several jazz generations already! We are super excited and honoured to have him work with us,” says Rasmus Soini, the artistic director of the orchestra. There will be two concerts: on 18 March at Espoo Cultural Centre and 23 March at Balder Hall, in the Senate Square, Helsinki.
A lecture that Aaltonen gave two years ago about his journey as an artist planted the idea about a collaboration concert in composer Soini’s mind. ”Junnu’s touching stories and his thoughts about music and playing shed new light on his personality,” Soini says. This inspired Soini to write a new extensive piece for Aaltonen and Sointi Jazz Orchestra. ’Saarnaaja’ (’The Preacher’) refers to the technique where playing is likened to the fervent verbal performance of priests – something that describes the style of ’the Finnish Coltrane’ very aptly. ”A deep spirituality and magical depth of an engrossed mediator always pervade Junnu’s playing. I really admire the power of his improvisation. Being able to unleash Aaltonen into the versatile sonic world of Sointi Jazz Orchestra is a dream come true to me,” says Soini. In addition to ’Saarnaaja’, we will be in for compositions and arrangements from composer-saxophonist Joakim Berghäll.
Juhani Aaltonen, who is known for his powerful, robust sax-playing and meandering, soulful improvisation, turned 80 years last December. This has not slowed the old master down; on the contrary, the staggering vitality that has always characterised his sound has been described to have grown deeper with age. First and foremost an improvised, Aaltonen’s expression is always born in the now and takes on a new shape according to time and place. He performs actively with groups Juhani Aaltonen Quartet and Nordic Trinity.
Founded in 2013, Sointi Jazz Orchestra is an 18-piece whose aim is to reform Finnish big band music. In addition to original works, their repertory consists of tailored works and new kinds of concert concepts; including a big band arrangement of the well-known Christmas play, Star Boys, theatre appearances and the cross-over play Juhlat in collaboration with Ylioppilasteatteri. They have also collaborated with saxophonist Jukka Perko on a big band version of the traditional Christmas hymn, Hoosianna. Their debut album comes out this spring, featuring, among others, vocalist Stina Koistinen of Color Dolor.
JUHANI AALTONEN & SOINTI JAZZ ORCHESTRA – 80 VUOTTA IMPROVISAATIOTA
Fri 18 Mar at 14.00 Espoo Cultural Centre, Louhisali, Espoo
Kulttuuriaukio 2, Espoo
Tickets starting from 15e
Wed 23 Mar at 19.00 Balder Hall, Helsinki
Aleksanterinkatu 12, Helsinki
Tickets 15/10e
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Juhani Aaltonen (tenor sax, flutes)
Rasmus Soini (conduction, compositions)
Petteri Hietamäki (alto and soprano sax, flute)
Sampo Kasurinen (alto sax, flute, clarinet)
Frans Thomsson (tenor sax, flute, clarinet)
Janne Saarinen (tenor sax, oboe)
Joakim Berghäll (baritone sax, flute, bass clarinet, compositions/arrangements)
Tommi Kolunen (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Tomi Nikku (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Leo Kylätasku (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Jasmin Afaneh (trumpet, flugelhorn, flute, alto flute)
Ilkka Hongisto (French horn)
Mikko Haanpää (trombone, bass trombone)
Panu Luukkonen (trombone)
Arttu Hautala (trombone)
Ville Niemelä (tuba)
Aleksis Liukko (piano)
Kaisa Mäensivu (double bass)
Siiri Partanen (drums)