The eight-day We Jazz Festival will showcase a wide range of jazz music in Helsinki from November 26 to December 3. Several of the performers will be heard in Finland for the first time, and many bands will make their public debut. Additionally, the festival will feature fresh collaborations between visiting and local musicians and new performance venues. Tickets for the tenth edition of the We Jazz event are available on Tiketti.
Matti Nives, the artistic director of the We Jazz Festival, shares his thoughts on this year's event:
"We Jazz Festival continues its adventure with inspiring jazz music. As usual for our festival, many of the performers are unfamiliar to the audience, offering the possibility of discovering something new and being surprised, living in the moment, and experiencing genuine presence. Without specific expectations, you may find something powerful that you didn't even know you were missing.
At the same time, We Jazz naturally becomes part of the conversation about the significance of experiences and what music and art, in general, can bring to our everyday lives. In a broader societal and political discourse that touches upon the importance of art and culture, it seems that the relevance of these themes is not diminishing.
We Jazz Festival presents artists who have a genuine opportunity to bring us together. The selected performers express a positive, forward-looking energy in their art. Each of them does it in their own unique voice and style, and we, in turn, want to extend an open invitation to all visitors to engage with the event on their own terms, with curiosity."
Highlights from the recently announced lineup include Gard Nilssen's 17-member Supersonic Orchestra from Norway, Brooklyn saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson's home concerts, the highly anticipated return of Teppo Mäkynen's beloved alias, The Stance Brothers, to the live stage after over 10 years, and a new duo by saxophonist Timo Lassy and accordionist Niko Kumpuvaara. Renowned free jazz figure Mats Gustafsson will also curate a series of solo performances and introduce his fresh trio lineup IF A NAME.
The majority of We Jazz's program is now available on the event's website, with more additions to come during the autumn.
We Jazz 2023
Helsinki, November 26 - December 3
#wejazz2023
wejazz.fi/2023
Event on Facebook
Tickets available at tiketti.fi/wejazz2023
The full We Jazz 2023 program is available on the event's website.
Performers (A-Z):
Anni Kiviniemi Trio
Borderlands Trio
Emma Salokoski & Ilmiliekki Quartet
Eskola/Puolitaival/Seppä/Mäkynen Quartet
Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra
IF A NAME
Jan Jelinek & Sven-Åke Johansson
Jonah Parzen-Johnson You're Never Really Alone
Kenneth Jimenez Quartet
Kiri Ra!
Magnetia Orkesteri
Mauricio Takara & Carla Boregas
Mats Gustafsson Presents: Solos For Frippe
Phardah
Timo Lassy & Niko Kumpuvaara
The Stance Brothers
Topias Tiheäsalo
Valtteri Laurell Nonet
We Jazz DJs
+secret gig
More performers will be announced during the autumn.
Event locations (A-Z):
G Livelab
Harju 8
Kahvila Sävy
Kalliosali
Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo
Kuudes Linja
Peloton Cycling Eatery
Radisson RED
Solo Sokos Hotel Torni
+ secret gig
+ home concerts
Partners: Fat Lizard Brewing Co., Pop Media, Radio Helsinki, Radisson RED Helsinki, Solo Sokos Hotel Torni, Sibelius Academy - University of the Arts Helsinki
Supporters: Gesellius Fond, City of Helsinki, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, Finnish Music Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Thurings stiftelse