Singer-songwriter Tuure Kilpeläinen surprises audiences by venturing on a jazz tour in mid-December. Kilpeläinen teams up with legendary American trumpeter Randy Brecker and five other musicians for the New York Suite: Tales from the Journey tour.
New York Suite is a new work by electric bassist Timo Hirvonen, guiding listeners to the city of dreams through Tuure Kilpeläinen's storytelling. The program features Hirvonen's original compositions, paired with personal anecdotes from the performers about their journeys to the stage—and deeper explorations of identity.
The tour, running from December 16 to 21, includes performances by Kilpeläinen, Brecker, and Hirvonen, along with Mikko Antila (percussion and synthesizers), Estonian pianist Holger Marjamaa, and Brazilian musicians Chico Pinheiro (guitar) and Rafael Barata (drums). Concerts will take place on December 16 at Koko Jazz Club in Helsinki, December 17 at Iisalmi Cultural Center, and December 20–21 at Mikkeli Theatre.
“I saw Randy Brecker play years ago at Pori Jazz. Back then, I could never have imagined that I’d one day tour alongside him,” Kilpeläinen shares.
Randy Brecker’s trumpet sound is among the most recognizable in the world. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a composer and soloist with the Brecker Brothers, a band he co-founded with his brother Michael Brecker.
Timo Hirvonen reflects on the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition:
“I started down this path at 17, and now, 30 years later, I’m creating the work I dreamed of in high school. To have the electric bass, new compositions, and some of the top names in the music world gathered around the same metaphorical campfire—it's happening now, and I couldn’t be happier,” Hirvonen says.
For more information: Koko Jazz Club
Photo: Meeri Koutaniemi