Jazz Finland Live

April Jazz Festival. 

The album release concert for Last Dance – New Music for Jazz Orchestra by Ed Partyka. Composed and arrangedby Ed Partyka, artistic director and chief conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, these new pieces are tailored to the expanded composition of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

On this album UMO’s expanded instrumentation consists of an acoustic rhythm section, five trumpets, French horn, three trombones, tuba and all five saxophone players doubling admirably on a wide variety of woodwind instruments, from flute to contrabass clarinet (and almost everything in-between). Thanks to this impressive array of instruments in the hands of the outstanding musicians of UMO, the soundscape of the album is lush and fervent and Partyka’s sonorous voicings and rich harmonies provide a warm and luxurious orchestral cushion for melancholy melodies and expressive improvised solos.

The album was created in the exceptional circumstances forced by the pandemic and was recorded in Helsinki in the autumn of 2020.

Open event

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra: Last Dance – New Music for Jazz Orchestra by Ed Partyka

“The Last Dance” album release concert features compositions and arrangements by Ed Partyka, the artistic director and chief conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, tailored to the expanded ensemble of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The album was created in the exceptional circumstances forced by the pandemic and was recorded in Helsinki in the autumn of 2020. The melancholic melodies sound rich and lush, serving intimate and expressive improvised solos from the soloists of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Ed Partyka, conductor
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra

PJK Big Band & Pepe Ahlqvist

A distinguished member of the European blues elite, Pepe Ahlqvist is an internationally known Finnish blues artist. During his over 40-year-long career he has frequently performed with many legendary blues artists. He has managed to maintain his popularity through the years by presenting fabulous and successful recordings with various bands and giving over 6.000 gigs and concerts.

Pepe Ahlqvist is a talented and personal singer-guitarist-harmonica player and a songwriter. In 2017 he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Finnish Blues Awards in Helsinki.

Pepe Ahlqvist, vocals
Markku Renko, conductor
Pop & Jazz Conservatory Big Band

Duration 2 h 45 min, intermission
Tickets from 29/24 € + delivery cost (from 1 €), Lippu.fi

Open event

Open event

Standard ticket 30 €
Seniors € 25
Students and children (7-17 years) 15 €

Ticket sales also on the day of the concert at the door of the Sigyn Hall from 18:00, if the concert is not sold out in advance.
The concert has an intermission. Duration of the concert is ca. 1 h 30 minutes.

Timo Kämäräinen and Turku Jazz Orchestra honor the music of the legendary jazz guitarist Pat Metheny in a concert at the Sigyn Hall on Friday 22 April. The brand new big band arrangements of the iconic compositions are by the artistic director of Turku Jazz Orchestra, conductor Ville Vannemaa.

Turku Jazz Orchestra
Timo Kämäräinen - guitar
Ville Vannemaa - conductor, arranger

Turku Jazz Orchestra ensemble:

Saxophones:
Jusu Heinonen
Tane Kannisto
Kimmo Gröhn
Samuli Nieminen

Trombones:
Hooper Santos
Jani Jokinen
Gustav Nyström
Vesa Huhtasalo

Trumpets:
Tero Lindberg
Petter Järvi
Mikko Karjalainen
Timo Mansikka-aho

Comp:
Timo Kajamies - piano
Vesa Saloranta - bass
Anssi Tirkkonen - drums

Open event