The annual Jazz-Espa concert series will once again be seen and heard in Helsinki’s Esplanade Park between 31 July and 5 August. The free concerts will feature close to twenty ensembles, including Valtteri Laurell Nonet feat. Antti Sarpila, Signe, Eero Koivistoinen, DANTCHEV:DOMAIN, and Mikko Innanen’s New Quintet.
Organised for the 24th time by the Finnish Jazz Federation, the Jazz-Espa concert series once again brings the most current contemporary jazz artists to the Espa Stage. Jazz-Espa presents a versatile cross-section of Finnish jazz in the heart of the summertime Helsinki, within easy access for everyone.
There will be slight changes to the Jazz-Espa concert schedule this year; weekday concert slots will be 1pm, 4pm and 5.30pm. On Saturday 5 August, there will be two concerts, at 1pm and 2.30pm. All concerts are free, have no age limits, and are fully accessible.
Jazz-Espa’s opening day will feature the critically acclaimed Valtteri Laurell Nonet feat. Antti Sarpila, last year’s EMMA Award nominee Signe, and the new-generation jazz ensemble Ida Alanen Trio. The evening concerts will feature luminaries such the Finnish jazz legend Eero Koivistoinen, the ensemble DANTCHEV:DOMAIN with their skilful Finnish-Bulgarian groove, Mikko Innanen’s New Quintet which combines contemporary poetry with contemporary jazz, and a rising star on international stages, jazz singer Elena Mindru with her ensemble Finnection. The daytime concerts will feature a range of performers such as the ensemble Perillä, led by Grammy Award recipient Joe Peri, Soul What feat. Joonatan Rautio who will launch their third album at Jazz-Espa, the swinging Django Collective Helsinki, and the boundary-pushing Silva Kallionpää Quartet.
The full Jazz-Espa program: www.jazzespa.fi/ohjelma
The Finnish Jazz Federation presents Jazz-Espa with support from the Helsinki Culture Unit. Event partners include the Savoy Theatre, Kappeli Restaurant Grand Rental Oy and Pop & Jazz Conservatory.