The spring season of Turku Jazz Orchestra is made of enjoyable jazz numbers, a wide sprectrum of moods and fireworks of rhythm. This spring TJO will delve into the classics of Thad Jones and collaborate with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in a grand-scale concert exploring the real of Finnish film music. Collaboration with the Big Band Course will also continue and on a more extensive scale than before.
Turku Jazz Orchestra's spring kicks off on 4 February at 7:00PM when Logi 3 at Logomo plays host to a musical journey in the world of Thad Jones. Turku Jazz Orchestra will be conducted by saxophonist and Thad Jones expert Ari Jokelainen, who is known for his masterful technique and versatility. The 1999 Pori Jazz Artist of the Year, Jokelainen has played in a number of acclaimed groups and has proven a diligent worker for the well-being of the Finnish jazz scene. Thad Jones's 1960s and 1970s compositions and arrangements for the Thad Jones – Mel Lewis Orchestra can be counted among the cornerstones of the big band canon. Turku Jazz Orchestra will interpret these classics with a wordly panache and artistic integrity.
On Thursday 7 May at 7:00PM Turku Jazz Orchestra and Turku Philharmonic Orchestra join forces to treat the audience to a cross section of the best Finnish film music from its early days to our time. Multi-award winning (e.g. the Louis Armstrong Prize in 2002 and the very first Sony Jazz Prize in 2003) vocalist Johanna Iivanainen will dazzle as the soloist of the grand collaborative concert project. The arrangements are by Vellu Halkosalmi, TJO's artistic director, who will also act as the conductor in the concert.
In addition, the big band course will resume its activities this spring. The course runs periodically, offering amateur musicians a chance to study big band playing under the tutelage of professionals of the Finnish jazz field. The school collaborates with Turun seudun musiikkiopisto and the Turku Conservatory, and to date almost 50 players from the Turku metropolitan area have participated in the course. This spring teaching is provided 11-19 April.
Turku Jazz Orchestra Spring 2015
4 Feb 2015 at 7:00PM Logomo Logi 3, Turku Jazz Orchestra plays Thad Jones
7 May 2015 at 7:00PM Turun konserttitalo, Sulle salaisuuden kertoa mä voisin