Jazz Finland Live

Jamison Ross
One of the hottest young names in music, singer and drummer, Jamison’s music shimmers between jazz, R&B, soul, gospel and blues. Think of a mix of Donny Hathaway and Elvin Jones. One minute you’re enjoying his super-soulful voice, gospel inflections and infectious love of melody; the next you’re digging his grooving, swinging drumming with his band.

His 2015 debut release, Jamison, introduced the world to his concept of rhythm and melody and also garnered a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.  His sophomore release, All For One, takes listeners a level deeper into Jamison’s ethos. The album is a result of a personal revelation that “we all have the capacity to love with empathy in a deeper way.”

Jamison Ross, vocals, drums (US)
Chris Pattishall, piano (US)
Rick Lollar, guitar (US)
Barry Stephenson, bass (US)

Peela
Maja Mannila, keys, vocals
Sami Leponiemi, saxophone
Johannes Granroth, guitar
Antti Ahoniemi, bass
Mikko Antila, percussions
Johan Dahlbo, drums

Tickets from 35/29 € + delivery costs (from 1 €), Lippupiste
Duration approximately 3h, incl. intermission.

April Jazz festival will be arranged for the 34th time at Tapiola in Espoo 24–28 April 2019.
www.apriljazz.fi
www.facebook.com/apriljazzfestival/
www.instagram.com/apriljazzfestival/

Open event

The world first learned of the incredible vocal artistry of Cécile McLorin Salvant when she won the prestigious 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. In just under the span of a decade she has evolved from a darling of jazz critics and fans, to a multi-GRAMMY Award winner, to a prescient and fearless voice in music today.

Since 2010, McLorin Salvant has soared to the top of the music world, garnering praise and gathering awards. “She has poise, elegance, soul, humor, sensuality, power, virtuosity, range, insight, intelligence, depth and grace,” announced Wynton Marsalis. “You get a singer like this once in a generation or two.” She has been honored with top spots in DownBeat’scritic’s polls in the categories of “Jazz Album of the Year” and “Top Female Vocalist.” NPR Music has awarded her “Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year” and “Best Jazz Vocalist.” Her debut album, WomanChild (2013), received a GRAMMY  nomination. And her following releases, For One to Love (2015), Dreams and Daggers (2017) Windows (2018) all won GRAMMY Awards for “Best Jazz Vocal Album.”

Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals (US)
Sullivan Fortner, piano (US)

Duration 90min, no intermission.

April Jazz festival will be arranged for the 34th time at Tapiola in Espoo 24–28 April 2019.
www.apriljazz.fi
www.facebook.com/apriljazzfestival/
www.instagram.com/apriljazzfestival/

Open event

Melissa Aldana Quartet

Tenor saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana is a rising star in the world of saxophone, Grammy nominee in 2019 and the first female instrumentalist to win the coveted Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2013. She released her highly acclaimed jazz quartet album “Visions” in May 2019.

Aldana’s music connects her own expression to the legacy of Latina artists who have come before her, inspired by the life and works of Frida Kahlo, both working in a male-dominated community. On her first jazz quartet recording, Aldana adds a new dimension to her sound, resulting in a transformative movement of expression and self-identity. Aldana’s lyrical tenor saxophone playing is described as sophisticated and full of personality and creative drive.

“ . . . one of the more exciting young tenor saxophonists today” – The New York Times

“Aldana…embodies a new sense of possibility and direction in jazz.” – The Washington Post

“Melissa Aldana’s Visions proves itself a highlight of this year.” – Friedrich Kunzmann, All About Jazz

Melissa Aldana, saxophone (CL)
Lage Lund, guitar (NO)
Pablo Menares, bass (CL)
Kush Abadey, drums (US)

Espoo Big Band feat. Verneri Pohjola

In 1980 established Espoo Big Band is celebrating its 40^th anniversary with the premiere of a new piece “Red” composed by Mikko Hassinen and conducted by Marzi Nyman. The orchestra is featured by brilliant improviser and trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and Yrjö awarded pianist Riitta Paakki.

The composition “Red” is a soundtrack for an imaginary murder case in 1500s Istanbul, inspired by Orhan Pamuk’s novel “My Name Is Red”. Composer Hassinen fuses jazz with world music traditions such as Arabic and Persian music and live electronics, to reshape the traditional big band sound.

Espoo Big Band (EBB) is one of Finland’s most prominent big jazz orchestras and it’s especially known for performing new Finnish big band music. Previously EBB has toured in Asia, Australia and Brazil, performed at several great festivals such as North Sea Jazz, Detroit, Montreaux and Paris and released ten albums.

Mikko Hassinen, arrangements and compositions, electronics
Verneri Pohjola, trumpet
Marzi Nyman, conductor
Espoo Big Band

Tickets from 35/29 € + delivery costs (from. 1 €), Lippupiste
Duration approximately 3h 15min, incl. intermission.

April Jazz festival will be arranged for the 34th time at Tapiola in Espoo 24–28 April 2019.
www.apriljazz.fi
www.facebook.com/apriljazzfestival/

Open event

Day 2 of April Jazz Subgrooves festival, streaming at Keikalla.fi.
Two concerts and artists interviews (in english).

MAJA MANNILA
Maja Mannila is a young and impressive jazz/soul singer, pianist and composer from Helsinki. She grew up in a musician family and has a steady grip of musicianship, but at the same time she points out the importance of freedom and fun when it comes to creating and playing music. Using elements from R’n’B, soul and jazz she expresses herself musically through songs with a meaning and improvisation. Mannila has performed with musicians such as Frank McComd (USA) and Richard Spaven (UK). Currently, she is working with her own band as well as a few other projects such as jazz-fusion band “Peela”.

Maja Mannila, vocals, keys / Johannes Granroth, bass / Severi Sorjonen, drums

TIMO LASSY & TEPPO MÄKYNEN
Combining forces as a duo these two household names of Finnish jazz, saxophonist Timo Lassy and drummer Teppo Mäkynen, are here to present their powerful music at full speed. Whilst sensing co-operation that has lasted over a decade playing together in various bands (Teddy Rok 7, The Five Corners Quintet, Jo Stance, Timo Lassy Band) there is a feel of freshness, excitement and something new when listening to debut album “Timo Lassy & Teppo Mäkynen”. The album has already gathered some great feedback such as the recent nomination for "Jazz Album of the Year" at Gilles Peterson Worlwide FM Awards 2020.

"The two make simple sound simply divine." 4/5 – DownBeat
"Like its multicolored but straightforward cover, this music is very simple but seductive." 4/5 – All About Jazz

Timo Lassy, saxophone / Teppo Mäkynen, drums

One night ticket 9,90€
Festival pass, including all four nights 29,90€
lippu.fi/april-jazz
www.apriljazz.fi

Open event

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra leans into a musical adventure with organist and composer Alf Hulbækmo. Hulbækmo’s compositions are inspired by the mystical time of twilight. An intriguing instrumentation of organ, vocals, strings, wind instruments and percussions is combined with light design by Tor Breivik and spectacular architecture of Temppeliaukio Church.

Trondheim Jazz Orchestra is one of the most important and creative jazz ensembles in Norway. Since it was established in 2000, the orchestra has had a great number of exciting projects with Norwegian and international jazz profiles. The orchestra belongs to the Mid-Norway Centre of Jazz who initiates and organizes new projects. The musicians involved are among Norway’s most famous jazz musicians. Alf Hulbækmo is a multi-instrumentalist and composer, who belongs in the new generation of  the Norwegian jazz scene.

“…a far reaching orchestra clearly capable of handling anything and everything that’s put in front of it.”
John Kelman, All About Jazz

Alf Hulbækmo, church organ, composition
Rohey Taalah, vocals
Siri Gjære, vocals
Harald Relling Nielsen, vocals
Håkon Aase, violin
Marianne B. Lie, cello
Kalle Nyberg, woodwinds
Hildegunn Øiseth, trumpet
Hild Sofie Tafjord, horn
Ole Jørgen Melhus, trombone
Hans Hulbækmo, drums and percussion

April Jazz festival will be arranged for the 34th time at Tapiola in Espoo 24–28 April 2019.
www.apriljazz.fi
www.facebook.com/apriljazzfestival/
www.instagram.com/apriljazzfestival/

Open event

Debut concert of Hanna Marttila aka HANNAH.

Free admission.

Open event

Dixie Club presents top notch bands performing New Orleans jazz and Dixieland.

Open event

THIS CONCERT IS CONFIRMED TO BE RESCHEDULED from Thursday 23rd April to Saturday 12th December. The tickets remain valid for the new concert date! If you want to cancel and return your tickets, you can do it via Lippu.fi until 14th April and the ticket price will be refunded. This may take several weeks.

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UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra presents a new concert series dedicated to stellar vocalists! The second show sees UMO Helsinki joined by British-Nigerian soul singer and songwriter Ola Onabulé. Without reserve, Onabulé can be called a man with a voice and a message.

This concert will see Onabulé and UMO Helsinki play the guest soloist’s original soul material, with an emphasis on the 2019 album Point Less, in brand new big band renditions. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will be led by the recently appointed chief conductor and artistic director, Ed Partyka.

Note also Great Voices #1: China Moses feat. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra at Savoy Theatre on Thursday 5th November

Tickets from Lippu.fi including service fee:
Normal price 47 €
Retirees 37 €
Students, kids, servicemen 15 €
Premium 67 €
Groups 37 €/person
Double ticket to 5.11. & 12.12. concerts also available (79/63/26/114 €)

Onabulé is a skilful storyteller who seems to breath soul into any song. With his astonishing three and half-octave vocal range he will both move you and make you move even if you were sitting in the furthest corner of the concert hall. Despite nodding to the 60s and the 70s, Onabulé’s music is unmistakably modern soul, and on stage he takes it to new heights with his colourful stage presence, effortless expression and wide range of stylistic devices. Thematically, Onabulé tends to focus on problems of today, including xenophobia and social injustice, but there are other recurring themes as well, such as his Nigerian background and certain ageless philosophical questions. Onabulé’s career spans already over 20 years. Naturally, he has performed at innumerable important jazz arenas and festivals and featured several notable orchestras, including the German WDR Big Band and the Danish Radio Big Band. He also runs his own record label, Rugger Ram Records, on which he has released seven out of his nine solo efforts. www.ola-onabule.co.uk

“You may want to dance, or you may want to march. But Onabulé’s latest will make it hard for folks to stay in their seats. Strongly recommended.” – Soul Tracks

“Onabulé is the whole package, a powerful expressive singer and striking songwriter with incisive things to say about contemporary society.” – All About Jazz Magazine

“He has stories to tell with a voice that does so honestly, melodically, soulfully, and without pity but filled with empathy. There’s power in rhythms and the beats.” – Blues & Beats & Bop

“A master of his instrument, a superb storyteller, a gracious human-being.” – Robert Papaleoni, WCNY TV, USA

Open event

Open event

Jeppis Jazz Thursday Jam Sessions presents:

Lasse Lindgren, trumpet
Mikael Svarvar, piano
Marcus Söderström, bass
TBA, drums

Enjoy the Lasse Lindgren Constellations of modern jazz, tinged with the heritage from Maynard Ferguson. Lasse is one of few who master the extreme high end of the trumpet register. And not only that! Superbone and valve trombone are also among his instruments.

Open event

25 years of progressive rock, jazz and funk explorations and record about to be released in April are good reason to celebrate the anniversary of bass player Jan-Olof Strandberg's Strandberg Project. In addition to Strandberg Project, the night at G Livelab will also feature AGSW Quartet, a group Strandberg founded in 2018 with Finnish jazz and prog heavy hitters Juhani Aaltonen, Jukka Gustavson and Hasse Walli. Both bands will perform material from the upcoming album.

Strandberg Project:
Jan-Olof Strandberg, bass
Jukka Gustavson, keyboards & vocals 
Sami Virtanen, guitar
Jartsa Karvonen, drums 
Felix Zenger, beatbox

AGSW Quartet:
Juhani Aaltonen, saxophone & flute 
Jukka Gustavson, keyboards
Jan-Olof Strandberg, bass
Hasse Walli, drums

Tickets 27€

Open event