Jazz Finland Live

Jazz-Espa is an urban festival produced by the Finnish Jazz Federation, focusing on Finnish jazz music. The event presents a diverse and contemporary selection of top names in Finnish jazz as well as young promising talents to a broad audience.

Saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen releases his second solo album on We Jazz label in September 2024. Since 2012, Lyytinen's solo project has pushed the boundaries of saxophone performance, transforming the instrument into a bass, harmony, and melodic instrument, often incorporating rhythmic elements. His innovative approach creates entire musical worlds, sometimes enhanced with effects, other times purely acoustic. The new album's creation has been a lengthy process, including performances and recordings with swans and nightingales.

Pauli Lyytinen is an eclectic musician and composer, particularly active in jazz, experimental, electroacoustic, and contemporary music. His active ensembles include Pauli Lyytinen Solo, Pauli Lyytinen & Niillas Holmberg, Pauli Lyytinen Rabbit Hole (FI/NO/CH), Magnetia Orkesteri, Elifantree, and Sole Azul.

Pauli Lyytinen - Tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, live electronics, mellotron

Picture: Tero Ahonen

Open event

Jazz-Espa is an urban festival produced by the Finnish Jazz Federation, focusing on Finnish jazz music. The event presents a diverse and contemporary selection of top names in Finnish jazz as well as young promising talents to a broad audience.

The Kadi Vija Key Project is an exceptional and emotionally evocative ensemble formed around Finnish-Estonian jazz vocalist Kadi Vija. Having released two albums, the ensemble's unique instrumentation creates a soft yet captivating sound that remains in the listener's mind, leaving them hungry for more. Bandleader and composer Kadi Vija is renowned for her remarkable improvisational skills and ability to use her voice instrumentally. The quartet consists of top-tier Finnish jazz musicians: Max Zenger on bass clarinet, Tuomo Dahlblom on guitar, and Tuomas Timonen on drums.

Kadi Vija – vocals

Max Zenger – bass clarinet

Tuomo Dahlblom – guitar

Tuomas Timonen – drums

Picture: Teemu Mattsson

Open event

Jazz-Espa is an urban festival produced by the Finnish Jazz Federation, focusing on Finnish jazz music. The event presents a diverse and contemporary selection of top names in Finnish jazz as well as young promising talents to a broad audience.

In the music composed by Max Zenger and jazz lizard Fredator, there's a blend of intensely flowing groove, beautiful tones of woodwinds, and a colorful onslaught of synthesizers. Freezer, even nominated for the 2023 Jazz Emma Award, has developed a distinctive sound creatively utilizing the possibilities of an exceptional lineup. Mikael Myrskog's keyboards and Zenger's low woodwinds seamlessly shift between the roles of bassist and soloist, while Fredator complements the wind phrases with finely tuned drums. Completing the ensemble in the live setup is the cool guitarist Samuli Kivelä.

Max Zenger – woodwinds

Mikael Myrskog – keyboards

Samuli Kivelä – guitar

Fredator – drums

Picture: Aleks Talve

Open event

Free entry

The Helsinki-based jazz trio Kinnunen-Ishiyama-Koskelainen, formed in the fall of 2023, consists of three young yet experienced jazz musicians who have previously played together in various ensembles and are now stepping forward as their own band. These friends speak the common language of jazz through their instruments, and their collective playing is characterized by a wealth of expressiveness, improvisation, and joy!

The band's music draws influences from everything from old Bebop to modern free jazz, respecting the tradition of jazz music while also creating something new. Their repertoire includes jazz standards arranged by the group, as well as original compositions by its members, featuring Latin jazz rhythms, bebop, ballads, funk, and free improvisation. Expect a versatile and energetic jazz show, to which this trio welcomes everyone!

Open event