Tampere Jazz Happening brought modern jazz to the city of Tampere for the 35th time already. Spanning four days from Thursday to Sunday, this year’s festival saw many cross-over performances and unprejudiced mixing of genres.
The majority of the concerts sold out, with the total attendance of the festival being 97 % and the number of visitors topping 5,000 people. There were also about a dozen international journalists and promoters present.
This year’s festival offerings included hypnotic free jazz, energetic ska and eerily beautiful melodies. The general atmosphere was broadminded and focussed – a warm and intimate receptiveness prevailed at Tullikamari throughout the weekend. The audience welcomed the challenge posed by more experimental genres, and, indeed, once again Tampere Jazz Happening was praised by many visitors for its bold and original musical offerings.
Altogether 24 acts, nine of which Finnish, performed at this year’s festival. Both concerts held at Telakka were sold out, as well as one of Saturday’s and one of Sunday’s concerts at Pakkahuone. Of the international stars, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Donny McCaslin Group and Sly & Robbie meet Nils Petter Molvær draw the biggest crowds, whereas the Finnish highlight was Verneri Pohjola’s interpretations of his father Pekka Pohjola’s music.
The Finnish Jazz Federation awarded avant-garde saxophonist Esa Pietilä with the Yrjö Jazz Prize. The Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE’s Varjo-Yrjö (Shadow Yrjö) went to long-standing photographer Maarit Kytöharju.
YLE recorded all concerts held at Pakkahuone, and they will be broadcast on TV channel YLE Teema next year. They will also be aired on YLE Radio 1.
The next Tampere Jazz Happening will take place on 2 - 5 November 2017.
http://tamperemusicfestivals.fi/jazz/
Photo: Maarit Kytöharju.