In addition to a varied selection of concerts Turku Jazz Orchestra organises events for professional and amateur musicians.
Sunday 16 August sees Turku Jazz Orchestra plunge into the big band works of the legendary Quincy Jones at Turku Jazz Festival. Concert This Is How I Feel about Jazz is composed of compositions from years 1956-65, transcribed by Vellu Halkosalmi, the artistic of Turku Jazz Orchestra, straight from recordings. The maestro Jones himself has provided Halkosalmi with a few precious sheets.
On 9 October, the dazzling vocalist Johanna Försti, fronts Turku Jazz Orchestra in concert Lady Sings the Blues at Börs Night Club. We will be in for hits from the repertories of, among others, Ray Charles, Etta James, Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin. In mid-November, the orchestra turns from blues to soul embarking Viking Grace with the velvet-throat Sami Saari, to perform some soul classics and Saari’s original pieces.
The season will end at Logomo on 18 December with concert Ellingtonin ja Kärjen sävelin (Ellington’s and Kärki’s Tunes), co-produced with Flame Jazz. As the title promises, we are to expect a programme where the two composer giants – American and Finnish – meet: Turku Jazz Orchestra takes the stage with vocalist Juki Välipakka performing best picks from the Duke’s big band repertory in Mikko Koivusalo’s Finnish translations, while Panu Savolainen Toivo featuring vocalist Yona play the eponymous vibraphonist’s arrangements of Kärki’s best-loved songs.
The autumn sees also a composition competition run by Turku Jazz Orchestra, open to all composers based in Turku or Southwest Finland. The big band school will open its doors, too, offering teaching for amateur musicians on 3 - 11 October at Turun seudun musiikkiopisto.
Turku Conservatory will play host to a special pop and jazz event, organised by Turku Jazz Orchestra on 9 - 11 October, with something on the menu for professional artists, students, amateur musicians and jazz enthusiasts alike.
Turku Jazz Orchestra - Autumn 2015
Concerts:
Turku Jazz 2015: This Is How I Feel About Jazz – Turku Jazz Orchestra plays music of Quincy Jones, 16 August at 4:00PM, Brewery Restaurant Koulu Courtyard
Turku Jazz Orchestra & Johanna Försti: Lady Sings The Blues, 9 October at 8:00, Börs Night Club
Turku Jazz Orchestra & Sami Saari, 14 -15 November, Viking Grace
Flame Jazz: Ellingtonin ja Kärjen sävelin, 18 December at 7:00PM, Logomo, Logi 3
Turku Jazz Orchestra & Juki Välipakka: Ellington in Finnish
Panu Savolainen Toivo & Yona
Other events:
Turku Jazz Orchestran big band composition competition, open 1 June -15 September, finals 3 February 2016, at Logomo Logi 3
The autumn period of the Big Band School 3-11 October
Weekend of Pop and Jazz 9 -11 October
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