Jazz Finland Live

Led by the drummer Okko Saastamoinen, OK:KO is a quartet that includes some of the most respected younger-generation jazz musicians. The original compositions and the strong distinctive voices of the soloists make the band one of the mightiest forces in new Finnish jazz. OK:KO’s second record, Syrtti, will see the light of day on 22 February, conveniently before the Ateneum gig.

Okko Saastamoinen, drums / Jarno Tikka, saxophone / Toomas Keski-Säntti, piano / Mikael Saastamoinen, bass

Open event

Open event

Ateneum club nights are small-scale and intimate gigs at the Ateneum Bistro. The series of club nights in the spring will be co-produced with We Jazz. This record label and festival, known as a pioneer of Finnish jazz, presents a series of top, current jazz acts from its roster of published artists.

Club nights are held from 19:00 to 21:00, with showtime at 20:00. Tickets, €20/€15 (students), are available from the online shop. The ticket includes admission to the exhibitions. Tickets can also be bought at the door before the show, subject to availability. When you arrive at the Ateneum, show your ticket at the ticket office or the museum shop, and you will receive a free pass to the exhibitions. Your free pass will be valid until the end of 2019.

Wed 20 March
OK:KO

Led by the drummer Okko Saastamoinen, OK:KO is a quartet that includes some of the most respected younger-generation jazz musicians. The original compositions and the strong distinctive voices of the soloists make the band one of the mightiest forces in new Finnish jazz. OK:KO’s second record, Syrtti, will see the light of day on 22 February, conveniently before the Ateneum gig.

Open event

Ateneum club nights are small-scale and intimate gigs at the Ateneum Bistro. The series of club nights in the spring will be co-produced with We Jazz. This record label and festival, known as a pioneer of Finnish jazz, presents a series of top, current jazz acts from its roster of published artists.

Club nights are held from 19:00 to 21:00, with showtime at 20:00. Tickets, €20/€15 (students), are available from the online shop. The ticket includes admission to the exhibitions. Tickets can also be bought at the door before the show, subject to availability. When you arrive at the Ateneum, show your ticket at the ticket office or the museum shop, and you will receive a free pass to the exhibitions. Your free pass will be valid until the end of 2019.

Wed 20 March
OK:KO

Led by the drummer Okko Saastamoinen, OK:KO is a quartet that includes some of the most respected younger-generation jazz musicians. The original compositions and the strong distinctive voices of the soloists make the band one of the mightiest forces in new Finnish jazz. OK:KO’s second record, Syrtti, will see the light of day on 22 February, conveniently before the Ateneum gig.

Open event

UMO delves into the pop icon Prince’s classic album Parade in the tour that arrives in Turku, Hämeenlinna, Kuopio, Tampere and Helsinki in March.

As very special reinforcements the orchestra will present two Finnish hard-core Prince fans and specialists: singers Tuomo and MARiANNA.

Issued in 1986, Parade was Prince’s (1958-2016) eighth album and soundtrack for the film Under the Cherry Moon. The first single Kiss topped music charts around the world right after its release and ultimately became one of Prince’s biggest hits. Parade saw the star make use of horns and strings for the first time, which translated into richer arrangements than ever before in his repertory.

UMO’s new renditions give plenty of solo space for the orchestra’s skilful musicians. The concert will feature, among others, the Parade masterpieces Kiss, New Position, Girls & Boys and Sometimes It Snows in April in bold and catchy arrangements. UMO & the soloists are conducted by Antti Rissanen.

Tuomo Prättälä, also known by his alias Tuomo, is a versatile musician, composer and vocalist, best-known from groups Quintessence and Ilmiliekki Quartet. A household name of Finnish music, he has won over both the critics and the masses with his soulful solo material.

An up-and-coming singer with many faces, MARiANNA has sung her way into her audiences’ hearts in the event of a concert Classical Trancelations, but she is also known from fronting different ensembles from jazz to classical music. Her main aim in singing is to express the magic of the moment and emotion to her listeners.

”Thanks to the fine arrangements, the tribute concert was not a well-executed repeat of the classic album Paradebut managed to turn up completely new sides. The big band sounded both frisky and beefy.” -Helsingin Sanomat, Jazzkeittiö, Katri Kallionpää 2 Dec 2018

Open event

Signe means a female triumphant in old Scandinavian. In other languages same or similar word means a ‘sign’, a reference to the improvisation incorporated in the band’s music, taking traditional jazz expression in new directions through the unusual lineup of four female voices of 
Josefiina Vannesluoma, Riikka Keränen, Selma Savolainen and Kaisa Mäensivu, who also masters the vivid double bass in Signe. 
The band released their debut EP in 2017 and the first full-length album is due in February 2019.

Signe's upcoming album draws influences from the poetry fragments that have survived from the pen of Sappho, the archaic Greek poet from the island of Lesbos. Sappho's lyrical poems were originally accompanied by a lyre. Signe's interpretation of this is New York -based Kaisa Mäensivu's warm, yet sometimes even intimidating double bass. The composers include Josefiina Vannesluoma and Selma Savolainen. 

Riikka Keränen, vocals
Kaisa Mäensivu, vocals, double bass
Selma Savolainen, vocals
Josefiina Vannesluoma, vocals

Tour 2019:

14.3. Helsinki, Koko Jazz Club at 7.00pm
15.3. Iisalmi, KJC: Ravintola Raatihuone klo 20:00
16.3. Oulun Musiikkijuhlat, Botanical Garden, at 3.00pm
17.3. Oulun Musiikkijuhlat, Oulu Art Museum at 1.00pm
18.3. Savonlinna, Kulttuurikellari at 7.00pm
20.3. Ylistaro, Ravintola Taro at 7.00pm
21.3. Salo, Bar Bizarre at 7.00pm
22.3. Turku, Café Tiljan at 10.00pm
24.3. Helsinki, Taidekoti Kirpilä at 4.00pm

The tour is supported by Jazz Finland.

Open event