Pianist and composer Sid Hille’s ensemble F# feat. Pepa Päivinen will perform on Jazz Federation tour across Finland in October. The trio, consisting of Hille, Jori Huhtala, and Markus Ketola, will become a quartet with the addition of woodwind virtuoso Pepa Päivinen.
Known for their delightfully unpredictable live performances, the improvisational virtuosos of F# feat. Pepa Päivinen are embarking on Jazz Federation tour from October 11th to 21st. The quartet kicks off the tour in Kuopio on Wednesday, October 11th, followed by performances in Jyväskylä, Savonlinna, Joensuu, Oulu, Kokkola and Raahe. The tour concludes with a concert in Rovaniemi on October 21st.
Releasing their second album Scientifically Proven & Clinically Tested in 2022, F# promises surprises during their live shows. In concert, four acclaimed and awarded composers and musicians meet on stage to spontaneously create exciting soundscapes, tight grooves, beautiful melodies and captivating textures. Performances are often entirely improvised, without any preparation or pre-arranged steps. At times, pianist Sid Hille may spontaneously introduce some of his compositions.
The ensemble keeps both the audience and themselves in suspense; musicians Sid Hille, bassist Jori Huhtala, drummer Markus Ketola and woodwind specialist Pepa Päivinen stay on their toes, as anything can happen, and it usually does. An F# concert is a creative and unpredictable process that surprises and inspires both listeners and musicians.
Sid Hille feels that he is now in a situation with his ensemble that he has always strived for as a musical storyteller: “There’s no need to adhere to any pre-established formulas or fit into traditional molds anymore. We can freely express what matters in that moment through our music.”
As a contemporary music composer, Hille cites the string quartet as one of his favorite genres, mentioning Beethoven describing the string quartet as a profound and meaningful conversation between four civilized individuals.
“As a composer, I build these conversations for months. As an improviser, all decisions about what I want to convey have to be made in the same moment,” describes the pianist, adding: “Our musical conversations are always constructive and all forms of expression are allowed if they feel right in that moment. The conversation might just as well lead to a reggae groove, a fast jazz frenzy, a pop ballad sequence or even a tango or waltz.”
All concerts of the tour are planned to be recorded and Hille expects the resulting recordings to be an unique collection of magnificent moments. “The ensemble has performed relatively frequently this year and last, and the trust in improvisation – both in oneself and in fellow musicians – has been growing all the time. The sky is the limit. I’m looking forward to this with great excitement!”
Each member of the ensemble is individually recognized as a leading figure in Finnish jazz. Sid Hille is known for his pianism and, in addition to his own ensembles, as a respected and prolific composer. Jori Huhtala’s bass work has been heard in groups led by Eero Koivistoinen, Raoul Björkenheim and Riikka Keränen among others. Markus Ketola is known as the longtime drummer of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and as the leader of his own groups D-Booster and Ketola Rewired. Saxophone legend Pepa Päivinen, who joined the ensemble for the 2022 album Scientifically Proven & Clinically Tested, has had a significant career in groups including Edward Vesala’s Sound & Fury and UMO.
F# feat. Pepa Päivinen on Jazz Federation tour from October 11th to 21st, 2023.
Sid Hille – piano, keyboards, theremin
Pepa Päivinen – saxophones, flutes, clarinets
Jori Huhtala – bass
Markus Ketola – drums
Wed 11.10. at 18.30 Kuopio, King’s Crown / Kuopio Jazz & Blues ry
Thu 12.10. at 19.00 Jyväskylä, Poppari / Jazz Jkl ry
Fri 13.10. at 19.00 Savonlinna, Kulttuurikellari / Olavin Jazz ry
Sat 14.10. at 18.00 Joensuu, Pakkahuone / Jazzkerho -76 ry
Tue 17.10. at 19.00 Oulu, RioLive / Oulun musiikkijuhlasäätiö sr
Thu 19.10. at 18.00 Kokkola, ELive Jazz Lounge
Fri 20.10. at 19.00 Raahe, Restaurant Uunilintu / Rajatsi ry
Sat 21.10. at 18.00 Rovaniemi, Lapland Music and Dance Institute, Helena Hall
Photo: Jori Huhtala