The fall season of the Finnish Jazz Federation tours gets its cherry on top on the long-awated Tribute To Ella tour in December. The enchantingly fresh and stylish sextet takes over their audiences with singer Aili Ikonen's nuanced vocals and leader Mikko Pellinen's clever arrangements of traditional vocal jazz classics by the likes of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
The ambiance sways from romantic ballads to Latin moods and crazy bebop as the band travels through the long and impressive career of the "First Lady Of Song".
This tribute ensemble began performing in 2008 and they have now in 2013 released their debut album for Fredriksson Music. The debut album ”Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella” is the first Finnish album focusing on the music of Ella Fitzgerald. The band releases a special vinyl edition of the record for this tour.
Aili Ikonen (b. 1982), known from her own band Aili Ikonen Ensemble, Kvalda and Korpi Ensemble, is said to be one of the few true scat-improvisers in Finland. Bassist and band leader Mikko Pellinen (b. 1983) leads also his own Mikko Pellinen Mini Big Band. He's a versatile composer, who makes music also for theatre, short films and dance performances.
Tour dates:
Wed 4.12. Lappeenranta, Restaurant Kolme Lyhtyä
Thu 5.12. Joensuu, Conservatory Hall
Fri 6.12. Kuopio, Music Centre, Chamber Music Hall
Sat 7.12. Raahe, 3” Kuppila
Tue 10.12. Järvenpää, Järvenpää Hall
Wed 11.12. Pori, KulttuuriKulma
Thu 12.12. Parainen, City Hall
Fri 13.12. Turku, Svenska Teater, Cafe Tiljan
Sat 14.12. Tampere, Telakka
Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella is
Aili Ikonen - vocals
Mikko Pellinen - bass, arrangements
Janne Toivonen - trumpet ja fluegelhorn
William Suvanne - saxophones and flute
Tuomas J Turunen - piano
Mikko Arlin – drums
www.tributetoella.com
Photo: Hanna-Kaisa Hämäläinen
The Finnish Jazz Federation (FJF) organizes five domestic tours in fall 2013. The tours are supported by the Ministry of Education and The Finnish Music Foundation MES. www.jazzliitto.fi