This summer Elojazz celebrates its thirtieth anniversary from the 1st to 5th of August. Spreading all around Oulu, this year the festival kicks off already on Wednesday with a club concert. The official opening concert takes place at the Tuira church on Thursday and on the weekend we see the main concerts traditionally at Rauhala patio and Prunnitori. The festival comes to end with the Big band ball at Rotuaari on Sunday. The anniversary year is launched already on this Friday 27.4. with a pre-club starring DJ Pappa Wolf, Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra and Sarkkinen-Hiltula-Ohenoja trio at Tuba and Voimala 1889.
On the festival Friday American Nik West and her band take the funk to new dimensions and cap the night by bringing some true starlight to the dark summer evening. International colour is brought to Elojazz also by Aki Rissanen trio, which performs with German piano virtuoso Nils Wogram.
Sartuday’s programme is launched by Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra and the day continues with moody Aili Ikonen and energetic Mopo. Saturday comes to an end with rarely performing grand ensemble, Timo Lassy & Ricky-Tick Big Band Brass.
Mikko Hassinen at the Spotlight of the anniversary year
At the Spotlight of this year’s Elojazz is conductor Mikko Hassinen, who can be described as one of the leading jazz musicians in Finland. His work is mainly based on pieces for big band and chamber music ensembles. He has worked with orchestras such as UMO, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera. At present he works as the chief conductor and artistic partner of UMO.
The festival Friday opens with Jukka Eskola & UMO concert where we hear selected soul and bossa nova pieces composed by Elojazz’s artistic director Jukka Eskola. Hassinen who conducts the concert has arranged the compositions for big bad.
Local colour at the opening concert
Oulu-born vocalist Johanna Iivanainen performs at the opening concert with Johanna ja Mikko Iivanainen duo at Tuira church on Thursday. The other group seen at the stage is a new trio by the bassist Jori Huhtala, Jori Huhtala 3, which creates strong atmospheres and soundscapes in their music.
On Friday’s after party Johanna Iivanainen trio performs jazz tunes based on Ella Fitzgerald’s interpretations. On Saturday at Voimala 1889 Jaska Lukkarinen Trio takes the stage together with one of the leading Finnish jazz guitarist, Raoul Björkenheim.
In addition to Jazzpuisto at the Åström park the festival offers admission free Big Band ball at Rotuaari on Sunday to celebrate the jubilee. Before the ball we see the finals of the big band fanfare contest, music is performed by the Oulu All Star Big Band.
Elojazz is part of the Oulu August Festival and is produced by Jazz-20 ry. Tickets are on sale starting on 25th April at Ticketmaster, Oulu10 and Valve. See the full programme at www.elojazz.com
Elojazz opening concert at Tuira Church
Thursday 2.8.
Jori Huhtala 3
Johanna ja Mikko Iivanainen duo
Elojazz main concerts at Prunnitori
Friday 3.8.
Jukka Eskola & UMO
Aki Rissanen Trio feat. Nils Wogram
Nik West
Jatkoklubi: Johanna Iivanainen sings Ella
Saturday 4.8.
Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra
Aili Ikonen
Mopo
Timo Lassy Band & Ricky-Tick Big Band Brass
Jatkoklubi: Jaska Lukkarinen Trio feat. Raoul Björkenheim
Big band fanfare contest and the ball at Rotuaari
Sunday 5.8.
Oulu All Star Big Band