The fifth Flame Jazz Cruise is organised on Viking Grace 27 – 28 September. The best of Finnish jazz will hop on the most luxurious of the Baltic Sea cruise ships and set out on a jazzy sailing trip. In addition to concerts, the boat is loaded with jam sessions and interviews with the artists. Flame Jazz organises popular jazz voyages twice per year.
Tuomo
The Finnish soul legend Tuomo dazzles as the soulful headliner of the Saturday night. Tuomo will play tracks from his new album, the praised New Mystique, along with fresh takes on older hits. With his new group, Tuomo has taken a step towards more electronic soundscapes but continues to blend these with soul in interesting and characteristically Tuomoesque ways.
Felix Zenger
Felix Zenger has been dubbed as the number one beatboxer on the globe. He is capable of producing most incredible sounds, imitations and rhythms using only his mouth and a mike. Zenger has warmed up audiences for Kanye West, and he is the most-viewed Finnish solo artist on Youtube to date with more than 37million views.
Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa
Jukka Eskola brings his newish all-star group Orquesta Bossa on the Cruise. The group is composed of a jazz quintet and a string ensemble, Proton String Quartet, and plays original compositions penned by Eskola and drummer Teppo Mäkynen in collaboration. Their music pays homage to the tradition of bossa nova but not without an original touch.
HERD & Jukka Perko
Sax player Jukka Perko and young stellar group HERD first began their fruitful collaboration in autumn 2013. Perko, an influential figure in the field of Finnish jazz, has performed Simon & Garfunkel’s material with symphony orchestras, and now these classic songs will be arranged for a jazz quartet.
www.jukkaperko.com
www.herdtrio.com
Aura Flow
Aura Flow is an energetic quintet, formed by five rising Turku-based jazz stars. Their 2014 debut You’ll Hear From Me is telling, this group does not try to appear any bigger or smaller as they are, but play their earnestly swinging original compositions with a staunch no-nonsense attitude.
Flame Jazz Talent: Kadi Quartet
The Flame Jazz Talent invites young rising groups to display their skills. This time the limelight falls on Kadi Quartet, the experimental group led by vocalist Kadi Vija. Winner of the Young Nordic Jazz Comets 2013 Finnish semi-finals, Kadi Quartet moves boldly from pop to free improvisation, thus redefining the traditional concept of the jazz quartet.
Wonder Girls & Henri Mäntylä
Saana Murtojärvi, Hanna-Mari Riihimäki and Sanna Vartiainen a.k.a Wonder Girls have sung renditions of their idol Stevie Wonder’s songs since 2007. On Flame Jazz Cruise they are joined by their trusted pianist Henri Mäntylä, whose soulful and groovy pianism is a strong presence in Aura Flow, as well.
27 Sep at 8:50PM Flame Jazz Cruise V (Viking Grace)
Book tickets on Viking Line website.
Ticket grants admission to all concerts.