The opening concert of the second We Jazz happening presents American trumpeter Avishai Cohen with his trio, Teppo Mäkynen’s Serenity Ensemble, and Jussi Fredriksson’s rare solo piano performance. The opening address of the jazz week will be given by M. A. Numminen, the patron of the festival. This year the festival tests the appeal of a new, special ticket type.
We Jazz 2014, taking place in Helsinki 8 – 13 December, will open in the glamorous milieu of Aleksanterin teatteri on 8 December. The programme of the opening night consists of the best of international and Finnish jazz. The headliner, American trumpeter Avishai Cohen, will perform with his trio, Triveni, composed of bassist Yoni Zelnik and drummer Nasheet Waits. Finnish talent is represented by Serenity Ensemble, a quartet led by drummer-composer Teppo Mäkynen, and one of today’s most hard-working figures in the Finnish jazz scene, pianist Jussi Fredriksson, whose solo sets are a rare treat. Similarly to last year, M. A. Numminen has prepared something characteristically surprising and unique for the opening night – something that will for the time being remain a secret. This multitalented legend of the Finnish cultural life acts also as the patron of this year’s We Jazz festival.
The opening concert tickets will be available at Tiketti shops starting from Friday 27 June at 10AM. Like last year, the earlier the cheaper: the fastest buyers might get their ticket at the incredible price of 2 €, while the regular ticket price is 39 €. This year, We Jazz also initiates a new ticket type, which offers a chance to enjoy live jazz with a cup of coffee in the company of artists and people behind the festival. By now, trumpeter Jukka Eskola, saxophonist Jussi Kannaste and Matti Nives, the artistic director of We Jazz, have been confirmed as “concert companions”, and more expert-hosts will be announced later.
“A VIP ideology does not lie behind the new ticket type, rather, we wanted to offer the surplus value of conversation to the audience”, says Matti Nives. “The ticket grants access into a box and one can spend the intermission over a cup of coffee, discussing the concert experience with jazz professionals. At least to me it’s a delight to hear the experts’ insightful analysis of a World Cup football match in the studio, for example. Perhaps we are able to offer something similar. The idea of a radically lower-priced early bird ticket was well received last year, and we decided to repeat it to the advantage of the people who keep close tabs on what We Jazz is doing."
Avishai Cohen’s Triveni is one of the most innovative groups of contemporary American jazz. Their minimalistic expression and unusual line-up as a trumpet trio are the pillars of the band’s individual sound. Cohen has released two albums with Triveni, which go by the group’s name, and a third one will be out before their visit to Helsinki. In a short time Teppo Mäkynen’s Serenity Ensemble has become one of the most talked-of debutants in the Finnish jazz scene. Instead of highlighting each musician’s individual performance, Mäkynen’s brotherhood emphasises band as one creative entity. Formed by saxophonists Jukka Perko and Mikko Innanen and bassist Antti Lötjönen, Serenity Ensemble has scheduled the release of their debut to coincide with their live show at We Jazz festival. The driving force behind Flame Jazz and Jazz HUG, the third performer, pianist Jussi Fredriksson, belongs to the major figures of today’s Finnish jazz. Sandwiched between two groups from which the piano is absent, Fredriksson’s unique solo piano set will take us on a journey to very different soundscapes. The night is opened by M. A. Numminen, the patron of the festival, whose opening address is already well on its way of becoming a tradition.
In its entirety the programme will be announced later in the summer.
We Jazz launched recently a crow-funding project in order to release material from last year’s festival. In exchange for their money the contributors would get a package that includes a We Jazz 2013 documentary film (DVD), We Jazz Loft Sessions 3D concert recording (CD), a 100-page magazine that consists of Miikka Pirinen’s and Maarit Kytöharju’s photographs and M. A. Numminen’s jazz-themed hexameter poem, and a We Jazz 2014 advance poster. The project is open until Sunday 29 June on http://mesenaatti.me/we-jazz-2013.
We Jazz 2014 opening night concert
Mon 8 December at Aleksanterin teatteri (Albertinkatu 32, Helsinki)
at 7.00PM (doors at 6.00PM)
Avishai Cohen Triveni (US)
Serenity Ensemble
Jussi Fredriksson Solo
M.A. Numminen
Tickets 2–59 € Tiketti, www.tiketti.fi / 0600-1-1616 (starting from Fri 27 Jun at 10AM)
Early bird tickets 2 / 5 / 10 €, 2. balcony 29 €, stalls and 1. balcony 39 €, concert companion ticket 59 € (box, includes serving and the chance to meet festival artists). Handling fees are not included.
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