The third edition of this year’s new We Jazz club series hits mbar on 21 July. The concert presents an entirely new duo, composed of the acclaimed trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, whose latest album Bullhorn has charmed both critics and audiences alike, and Tatu Rönkkö, known as the drummer for trio Elifantree. Diamond-hard jazz vinyl will, of course, be provided by We Jazz DJs and the coolest visuals by National RGB VJs.
We Jazz, one of the moment’s most innovative forces in the Finnish jazz scene, organises a new club series this summer at mbar terrace with a special focus on fine and fresh Finnish jazz. Indeed, the club series sees as many as three stage debuts. The July edition features one of these newcoming groups, duo named Verneri Pohjola X Tatu Rönkkö. In addition to live programme, the We Jazz DJs delve in their vinyl collections for the best summery tunes, while stunning visuals will be conjured up by the awarded National RGB VJ collective. The club series has so far proven a success among the audience: both the May and the June editions have seen the terrace packed with fans of jazz.
Trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and drummer Tatu Rönkkö form a duo that is – if possible – even greater than its parts. Summed up mathematically, we can expect an experience where one plus one equals at least three: the two distinguished artists will embark on a quest for new forms of expression mainly within the field of jazz, occasionally venturing to the no-man’s land between jazz and other genres. Verneri Pohjola’s name has recently been on everyone’s lips on account of his new quartet album, Bullhorn, which seems to have taken the artist finally to international big leagues. Tatu Rönkkö, too, issued an album this spring, with his fresh trio Elifantree. One of Rönkkö’s most notable artistic victories has been the experimental solo concept I Play Your Kitchen, part of the programme of We Jazz 2014 and this spring’s Estonian Jazzkaar festivals.
DJ Collective We Jazz DJs have run a popular club series of their own at Helsinki’s Kuudes linja and provided the best and rarest jazz tracks at a number of other events, including Flow Festival, Helsinki, and XJazz Festival, Berlin. DJs Eero Löyttyjärvi and Matti Nives are each familiar voices from the radio: the former hosts a show named Lauantaijatsit on Bassoradio and the latter the show Jazz kiinnostaa on Radio Helsinki. Expect rare jazz pearls and sturdy swing!
The We Jazz summer club series culminates in We Jazz Loft Sessions 3D in August, when drummer Teppo Mäkynen with the National RGB VJs present a new take on the commissioned piece that was premiered at the We Jazz 2013 Festival.
We Jazz Summer Club Series
with Espiritu Libre
mbar, terrace (Lasipalatsi Square, Helsinki)
Free entry!
Tue 21 Jul at 19–02
Verneri Pohjola X Tatu Rönkkö
showtime at 20
We Jazz DJs
Tue 18 Aug at 19–02
We Jazz Loft Sessions in 3D
showtime at 21
We Jazz DJs
#wejazzmbar15