Tampere Jazz Happening will be held this year featuring solely domestic artists and ensembles. On this exceptional year, the festival will be organized in a slightly smaller scale than usual. During the four festival days of October 29th-November 1st 2020, a total of 18 bands will perform at Pakkahuone and Telakka.
On Thursday 29th October at the opening concert Spotlight on Tampere, three local ensembles will take the stage at Pakkahuone. Kielo Kärkkäinen & Taming May's Tribute to Carmen McRae is a tribute from the Tampere-based singer to one of the most significant jazz vocalists of the 20th century. Founded in 2012 by saxophonist Masa Orpana, Masa Orpana Honk brings the joy and diverse rhythms of roots music to the contemporary jazz environment. The evening will end with Utopianisti led by Markus Pajakkala, who will serve imaginative jazz rock. Admission to the opening concert is free, to enable an accessible, low threshold entry in to modern jazz.
From Friday onward, the festival will spread also to Telakka. Iro Haarla Quartet and Jukka Gustavson Prognosis will perform in the Pakkahuone on Friday after the Yrjö Prize is awarded by Jazz Finland. Representatives of the younger generation, Åland-based drummer-singer Amanda Blomqvist and the band of singer-songwriter Selma Savolainen, Selma Juudit Alessandra will both perform at Telakka. Timo Lassy Band will perform in a late night concert at Pakkahuone.
On Saturday, Pakkahuone will host two concerts, each featuring two ensembles. During the day, the Finnish jazz all stars team Reiska Laine Quintet and Dark Roast 006, the latter founded this year and led by saxophonist Joakim Berghäll, will both take the stage.
The evening will be opened by the duo of Timo Lassy and Teppo Mäkynen, followed by Antti Lötjönen Quintet East, who released their debut album last year. Telakka will be opened on Saturday by Mikko Pettinen Why Not, who takes a stand on climate change, followed by MMQ led by trumpet player Mika Mylläri. The evening will end at Pakkahuone with a performance by Gourmet, who will release their new album on the festival weekend.
Sunday 1st November will start at Pakkahuone with the duo performance of Verneri Pohjola and Tuomo Prättälä, where they will interpret the compositions of Pohjola's new album The Dead Don't Dream.
Pakkahuone's programme culminates in the performance of Mortality, which consists of top names in Finnish jazz and presents the compositions of Tampere-based music influencer Tapio Ylinen. Telakka will also return to the local theme on the last day. Guitarist Matti Salo and his quartet will perform at the closing concert of the festival. As with Thursday’s opening concert, there is free admission to Sunday’s closing concert.
Tampere Jazz Happening ticket sales will open on Wednesday, October 7th 2020. Tickets are sold by Tiketti. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, significantly fewer tickets are sold for the events than usual, and there is no ticket sales at the door at all this year. However, Tiketti will still sell tickets up until one hour from the start of each event, unless the event is sold out in advance. Stream tickets for the concerts in Pakkahuone, with the exception of night concerts starting at 24:00, will also be for sale for remote viewing.
See the full program: tamperejazz.fi
Photo of Selma Juudit Alessandra © Anni Porrasmäki