Kino Regina’s programme features the Summer Jazz season, taking audiences on a journey through the history of jazz, its legendary figures, and memorable concert performances. The series also celebrates a significant milestone: this year marks one hundred years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland aboard the steamship Andania.
The Summer Jazz season presents a diverse selection of biographical films, documentaries, and concert recordings. The opening film is The Gene Krupa Story (1959), which tells the story of the legendary drummer’s life and career.
The programme also includes The Glenn Miller Story (1953), tracing the life of the celebrated bandleader, and Miles Ahead (2015), an imaginative interpretation of the life and music of Miles Davis. The documentary Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser offers a portrait of Monk’s life on tour and in the recording studio. The screening on 21 August will be introduced by pianist Seppo Kantonen.
Among the highlights of the summer is Jazz on a Summer’s Day (1959), a celebrated film of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival featuring performances by Anita O’Day, Dinah Washington, Gerry Mulligan, Louis Armstrong and many others. Presented in a beautifully restored print, the film’s sound and visuals can be enjoyed to their fullest. Jazz on a Summer’s Day will be screened on Sunday, 2 August, as a special late screening following the Jazz-Espa festival programme. The screening will be introduced by singer Anna Inginmaa.
Produced in collaboration with Yle, Jazz Legends in Finland brings rare archival footage of international jazz icons visiting Finland to the big screen. The screening serves as a Jazz-Espa pre-event and will be introduced by actor Lotta Kuusisto. Among the film’s highlights is a remarkable interview and performance by the Bill Evans Trio, recorded at the Kuusisto family home and offering a fascinating glimpse into its era.
Summer Jazz at Kino Regina 3 July – 13 September. The series is presented in collaboration with the Finnish Jazz Federation and Jazz-Espa.
Tickets: €10 (€9 with a Kino Regina Club Card)
Photo: Kino Regina