Tampere Jazz Happening filled the venues of Tullikamarinaukio, Tampere, with modern jazz already for the 34th time last weekend. One of this year's special themes was the union of jazz and verse.
The majority of the concerts drew a full -- or a nearly full -- house. According to initial estimates the total number of visitors will be close to 5,000, making the relation between the number of visitors to the festival's capacity approximately 94 per cent. The number of international journalists and promoters topped 30.
This year's live music offerings ranged from energetic free jazz and hip hop-flavoured groove to serenely calm melodic jazz. The atmosphere at the festival throughout the weekend was warm, open-minded, concentrated and intimate, thanks to which even the more avant-garde music was greeted by a responsive crowd. Indeed, the festival received plenty of positive feedback for its bold programme, where even the forms of jazz traditionally deemed challenging were represented.
During the four days, Tampere Jazz Happening saw the total number of 27 groups take the stage. Nine of the acts were Finnish, while eighteen were international. Both concerts at Telakka and both Friday's and Saturday's late-night concerts at Pakkahuone were sold out. Also the free concert at Klubi on Thursday drew a full house. Of the international guests, this year's favourites among the audience proved to be Ginger Baker Confusion and Carla Bley „Trios", while Ricky-Tick Big Band and Julkinen Sana claimed the mantle of the biggest crowd-puller among Finnish acts.
Tampere Jazz Happening also hosted the Finnish Jazz Federation's Yrjö prize ceremony. The prize was awarded to the long-standing bassist Ulf Krokfors, while the so-called Varjo-Yrjö prize for contribution to the Finnish jazz culture was received by Seppo Hanste.
In 2016 Tampere Jazz Happening will take place on 3 - 6 November.