The spring season of UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra for 2024 is marked by various collaborations and impressive Finnish and international guest soloists, conductors, and composers.
Among the guests are young and emerging talents, such as German trombonist Maxine Troglauer and Swedish trombonist-singer Ebba Åsman, guitarist-composer Kalle Kalima with a commissioned composition, saxophonist Timo Lassy and conductor-composer Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen, pianist-moogist-composer Kari Ikonen, and jazz singer Elena Mindru, with whom the 100th anniversary of Sarah Vaughan is celebrated at the end of January.
Collaborative concerts are planned with vocal ensemble Club For Five, the new soul band Funky Finns, and the children's music ensemble Pikku Papun Orkesteri. The annual collaboration with the Helsinki City Orchestra continues as British conductor Jules Buckley returns to lead the joint performance featuring the music of Quincy Jones.
UMO's year kicks off this week with collaborative concerts with students from the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences' music program. Students will join UMO's ranks and perform as soloists in two free concerts. The popular lunchtime concerts in collaboration with the Savoy Theatre will also continue.
The program will be complemented in the coming weeks with a few more announcements for the late spring.
Check out the entire spring season program at UMO's website.
Image: Elena Mindru © Andrei Budescu