Jazz Finland Live

Composer Jussi Lampela talks about the piano concerto in jazz.

Free entry!

Open event

Kansi Auki Piano Jazz Festival opens with two premieres. On stage Sid Hille Contemporary Collective and Jussi Lampela Nonet.

The Contemporary Collective's intention is to create a bridge, a connection between jazz and contemporary classical music. The concerts are improvised to a very large extent. And what a thrill it is! Four such unique voices! In a similar way that Beethoven described the string quartet as four cultivated people having a conversation, this is a conversation of four experienced improvisers, four different instruments plus the use of electronics, two players coming from a jazz point of view and two from a contemporary classical one.

Sid Hille Contemporary Collective:
Sid Hille – piano & electronica
Teemu Viinikainen – guitar
Heikki Nikula – bass clarinet
Markus Hohti – cello & electronica

Jussi Lampela's new work "Yllättäviä kohtaamisia" (Surprising Encounters) is a piano concerto, composed for specifically for Iiro Rantala to perform. Jussi Lampela is one of the driving forces of today's Finnish jazz with a very contemporary outlook. He is a composer, arranger and leader of several groups, and worked long hours to increase the presence of Finnish jazz in clubs and concert halls.

Jussi Lampela Nonet:
Mikko Pettinen – trumpet
Petri Puolitaival – baritone sax, flute
Antti Rissanen – trombone
Ari Jokelainen – alto sax
Miika Jämsä – tuba
Tero Toivonen – french horn
Ville Herrala – bass
Jussi Lehtonen – drums
Jussi Lampela – compositions/arrangements

Iiro Rantala - piano

Tickets at Kapsäkki: 30/25 €, Lippupiste starting from 32,50/27,50 € Festival pass 80/83,50 €

Kapsäkki box office: 09 260 0907, liput@kapsakki.fi

Admission to the day's Allotria concerts 10 € for ticket buyers.

Open event

This November night of fashion launches a knitwear collection designed by the artistic
director and We Jazz mastermind, MATTI NIVES. The NIVESKNITS fall/winter
collection is graphic design in knitwear form and the garments also serve as the
visual backdrop of the December event. Saxophone player TIMO LASSY has
assembled an aptly named FASHION QUARTET for the occasion, featuring
GEORGIOS KONTRAFOURIS on wurlizer-piano, TEEMU ÅKERBLOM on bass and
JASKA LUKKARINEN on drums.

Open event

Pianist Joona Toivanen and drummer combo Kallio Slaaki go on a Jazz Federation tour together this week. The tour extends to eight concert venues across the country.

Joona Toivanen, solo piano

Joona Toivanen released his first solo piano album 'Polarities' on the Swedish Footprint Records in late 2013. On the album, Toivanen explores new ground by studying the possibilities of the piano as an instrument. The release concert for Polarities took place at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki on December 14 at the inaugural festival event We Jazz 2013. In November 2014 the solo project is heard live on the Finnish Jazz Federation tour.

On Polarities, Toivanen not only uses the traditional sonic landscape of the grand and upright piano, but also stretches the sound by the use of prepared piano and adding multiple layers into the music.

Kallio Slaaki

Mika Kallio - drums, gongs, bells, percussion
Anssi Nykänen - drums, percussion
Mikko Hassinen - drums, gongs, bells, percussion

Kallio Slaaki is an exhilarating exception in the field of jazz and rhythm music. Drummers Mika Kallio, Mikko Hassinen and Anssi Nykänen have made their mark on the Finnish jazz history with their unique instrumentation and dynamic improvisation. Their distinguished sound is Kallio's design and he also writes material for the trio. Kallio Slaaki released their debut album "Polymania For Percussion" on Fiasko Records in September 2013. The trio goes on the Finnish Jazz Federation tour in November 2014.

Tour dates:
5.11. Tornio, Musiikkitalo at 7pm, tickets 20/10/5€
6.11. Oulu, Oulun kaupunginteatteri, Pikisali at 7pm, ticketst 15/10€
7.11. Turku, Cafe Tiljan at 9pm, tickets 15/10€
8.11. Raahe, Raahe-sali at 7pm, tickets 15/10€
12.11. Joensuu, Konservatorion sali at 7pm, tickets 15/10/6€
13.11. Savonlinna, Wanha Kasino at 8pm, tickets 15/10€
14.11. Kuopio, Konservatorio at 8pm, tickets 15/10€
15.11. Kajaani, Kaukametsän Kouta-sali at 7pm, tickets 15/10€

Open event