Composer Jussi Lampela’s group Jussi Lampela Nonet continue their concert series at Helsinki’s Kanneltalo this autumn. In October, the three-concert series features vocalist Aili Ikonen.
Jussi Lampela invites a very topical artist to front his nine-piece this October: namely, Aili Ikonen. Recently, Ikonen’s name has been closely associated with top trio HERD, in particular. HERD and Ikonen’s collaborative project “Jazz Bug” explores the heyday of the Finnish jazzy popular song, presenting new renditions of some the best-loved hits of the era. Along with the Finnish jazz divas of the mid-20th century, Ikonen has been identified in recent years as the first lady to of the country to interpret Ella “First Lady of Jazz” Fitzgerald’s repertoire with tribute band Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella. She is belongs to cult band Kvalda and has often featured with big bands UMO and Norrbotten Big Band.
The theme that carries the concert is that of the jazz standard. Jussi Lampela Nonet featuring Aili Ikonen will play new arrangements of old standards, but also take up the challenge of “creating a new standard”; in other words, there will be both premieres and new interpretations on the set list.
Jussi Lampela is a versatile and acclaimed Finnish composer-arranger. His nonet was first noted in 2010 when Ricky-Tick Records released their collaborative album with trumpeter Jukka Eskola, entitled Lampela X Eskola. Lampela’s other long-term collaborators include Vantaan Viihdeorkesteri, UMO Jazz Orchestra, Teppo Mäkynen and Pessi Levanto.
After October, Jussi Lampela Nonet will give two more concerts at Kanneltalo this autumn: on 18 November (featuring guitarist Teemu Viinikainen) and on 9 December (featuring vocalists Yona and Emma Salokoski).
Apart from the concert series at Kanneltalo, there is also a premiere from Lampela to be expected this autumn: a new jazz-influenced piano concerto, composed by Lampela with Iiro Rantala as a soloist, will be performed for the first time at the Kansi Auki Piano Jazz Festival in November.
Further information on the programme and themes of upcoming concerts can be found on Lampela's blog:
http://jussilampelanonet.tumblr.com
Jussi Lampela Nonet on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JussiLampelaNonet
Jussi Lampela Nonet + Aili Ikonen: Menneitä ja tulevia standardeja / Standards of Today and Tomorrow
Ti 21.10.2014 klo 19, Kanneltalo (Klaneettitie 5, Helsinki)
Tickets 20 €, pre-book at Lippupalvelu and Kanneltalo Box Office
Jussi Lampela Nonet:
Jukka Eskola, trumpet / Ari Jokelainen, alto saxophone / Petri Puolitaival, baritone saxophone, flute / Tero Toivonen, french horn / Antti Rissanen, trombone / Miika Jämsä, tuba / Riitta Paakki, piano / Ville Herrala, double bass / Jussi Lehtonen, drums