Composer-arranger Rasmus Soini and drummer Siiri Partanen present their new interpretation of the Christmas classic, Star boys’ singing procession. The production, featuring a 17-piece orchestra and a vocal group, tours Helsinki this December.
The promising young composer-arranger Rasmus Soini (b. 1990) is the leader of Sointi Jazz Orchestra. Together with the group’s drummer Siiri Partanen, Soini has made a brand new rendition of the traditional Christmas play, both rearranging and adding entirely new sections to it. The piece will be taken to the stage thrice in Helsinki this Christmas time, with four singers, Kalle Ruusukallio, Lauri Mikkola, Juuso Waris and Minna Tuuliainen joining Sointi Jazz Orchestra in the classic roles. The rest of the crew includes Sanna Niskanen (costumes), Juha Koivusalo (graphic design) and dancer Emmi Kahilainen (direction).
Sointi Jazz Orchestra, founded in 2013, is formed by young freelance musicians. Their distinctive style, which infuses jazz with classical elements, and fresh and unapologetic approach to jazz music – which have also been taken notice of by the media – are firmly present in the new Christmas production, too. “We have rearranged the piece from beginning to end, even thrown in some entirely new interludes,” Soini tells. The new version is almost an hour-long musical piece, where familiar numbers carry the plot through shifting moods.
The woman behind the challenging idea of reshaping a 200-year musical tradition was drummer Partanen. “I was never a huge fan of the traditional Star boys' singing procession, which might be why I wanted to do something new with it”, Soini says.”Star boys’ singing procession is a strong brand; it’s always there in Christmas but nobody has ever dared to put a creative finger on it. Our version has jestingly been dubbed as the 21st century Snowman – this version will stand the test of time!”
Sointi Jazz Orchestra was first assembled by Soini one year ago, when he had original material but needed a band to play it in a concert. A freelance big band is still a rare phenomenon in the field of Finnish music, but Sointi Jazz Orchestra has proven its potential: they have performed on the Espa Stage, at the Helsinki Night of the Arts and Koko Jazz Club, and the group has also launched a foundation to support their activity. Critics have praised Soini’s output as surprising and sophisticated – aims which the maestro subscribed to himself: “My goal is to bring something new to the tradition of big band music. As a composer my point of departure is always to create music that gives space for each performer’s own personality.” Sointi Jazz Orchestra will not slow down after Christmas either: in the spring, the group will collaborate, among others, with the Student Theatre of Helsinki.
SOINTI JAZZ ORCHESTRA ESITTÄÄ TIERNAPOJAT 2014:
Sun 14 Dec 2014 Tuomaan markkinat, Senate Square, Helsinki
Mon 15 Dec 2014 at 19.00 Arabiasali, Helsinki
Arabiankatu 2, Hki
Organised by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
Sat 20 Dec 2014 at 17.00 Kanneltalo, Helsinki
Klaneettitie 5, Hki
Tickets 11,50 eur + service fees, Lippupalvelu
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