Jazz Finland Live

With five Grammy Award nominations including two for her most recent recording Phoenix Reimagined (Live) — for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Jazz Performance — Lakecia Benjamin is taking the jazz world by storm.

Lakecia Benjamin and her quartet are at the forefront of the convergence between jazz, hip-hop, and soul. Benjamin radiates an unstoppable energy that ignites the stage and captivates audiences. You’ll hear why this charismatic, dynamic artist has been voted Rising Star Alto Saxophonist by Downbeat Critics Poll, and Up and Coming Artist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Benjamin’s electric presence and fiery sax work have shared stages with several legendary artists, including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and The Roots.

“The alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin plays jazz that is sprinkled with the rich flavors of funk and soul – she’s a crafty traditionalist who remains in step with the rhythms of the young generation.”

–The New Yorker

A streetwise New York City native, Lakecia Benjamin first picked up the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. From there she joined the renowned jazz program at New York’s New School University. However, even at that early stage, Benjamin was already playing with renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry and Reggie Workman, which introduced her to opportunities to play and tour with an array of artists such as Rashied Ali, Christian Mcbride, Gregory Porter, and James “Blood” Ulmer. With her deep jazz roots, she was soon in demand as an arranger and horn section leader, landing stints with such acclaimed artists as Anita Baker.

“Phoenix Reimagined is one of the best live jazz albums of recent years. It's the next best thing to being there.”

Kevin Whitlock, JazzWise (UK)

Last summer, Benjamin released the album “Phoenix Reimagined (Live),” recorded in a Brooklyn studio in front of a small live audience. The album features a distinguished cast of guests including guitarist John Scofield, drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, and trumpeter Randy Brecker. The guests add new dimensions to the new and previously released songs, and the album captures the energetic atmosphere and spontaneity of a live performance. At April Jazz, the audience will be able to experience this for themselves in the club-like Louhi Hall.

Lakecia Benjamin, alto saxophone (US)
John Chin, piano & keys (US)
Elias Bailey, bass (US)
Dorian Phelps, drums (US)

5.30pm doors
6.00pm showtime

Tickets 31/26 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Duration approx. 1 h 15 min, no intermission

Open event

Dominic Miller, wider known as Sting’s trusty side-kick guitarist, charmed the audience during the band's first visit to Finland with club gigs in Helsinki and Tampere. In the spring, the quartet led by Miller will arrive at April Jazz. Sello Hall provides an excellent setting for the band's acoustic sound.

Dominic Miller is also a very successful solo artist having released 12 albums under his own name. With his newest album "Vagabond" (ECM Records) Dominic Miller has added another highlight to his solo discography. He has crafted a fascinating sound mixture of Jazz, Pop, Acoustic Folk, Contemporary Classical and Latin elements. “Vagabond” combines all those styles producing something entirely new. An appropriate genre term for such a symbiosis doesn’t yet exist but we feel it soon will.

Born in Buenos Aires to an American father and an Irish mother, Dominic studied guitar at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College and the London Guildhall School of Music. He’s been a sought after session musician since the late 80s and his list of engagements defy categorisation but include collaborations with Phil Collins, Katie Melua, Bryan Adams, Paul Young, Peter Gabriel and Tina Turner, among others.

Dominic Miller has been involved in every Sting album since the 1991 album "The Soul Cages" and performed over a thousand concerts with the former "Police" singer as well as co-written hit songs such as "Shape Of My Heart" and “La Belle Dame sans regrets”.

Dominic Miller, guitar (UK)
Ziv Ravitz, drums (IL)
Nicolas Fiszman, bass (BE)
Mike Lindup, piano (UK)

Tickets 49/44 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Duration approx. 2 h incl. intermission

Open event

Album release concert!

Jussi Kannaste, saxophone, compositions
Tomi Nikku, trumpet
Petter Eldh, bass (SE)
Joonas Riippa, drums

Tickets 15 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.

Open event

April Jazz presents Anomalie’s long-awaited Finnish debut at Korjaamo!

Anomalie is the live electronic project of Nicolas Dupuis, a keyboardist and producer based in Montreal and coming to April Jazz.

Rising to worldwide fame after the release of his two EPs, Metropole Part I and Part II, Dupuis begun the next stage of his career with his debut single, “Bond,” off his debut full-length album, Galerie (2022).

Galerie marked brand new sonic directions and for the first time ever, vocal collaborations – all the while staying true to the sound that has built a worldwide fanbase and remains unmistakably Anomalie. His music innovatively combines cutting-edge electronic production, jazz, and classical harmonies, virtuoso keyboard skills, and an undeniably raw funk groove connecting it all together. This places his career in a singular position.

His public cosigns include an eclectic mix of music heavyweights (Charlie Puth, Chromeo, D Smoke, and Snarky Puppy), and his fanbase is a mix of the new jazz scene (Louis Cole, Keifer), the soulful beats scene (FKJ, Masego), and the post-dubstep electronic scene (Griz, Odesza).

Dupuis has a lot to reflect upon the success that got him here. By the end of 2020, Anomalie sold out two world tours (North America, European, and Asia) with his intricate 4-piece live band, grew his online following in the millions across social media, and performed at the likes of Red Rocks, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Electric Forest Festival. Most impressively, he’s achieved all of this as an independent artist.

Anomalie, keys (CA)
Alexis Elina, keys (CA)
Gabriel Lamarre, bass (CA)
Ronny Désinor, drums (CA)

8PM doors
9PM showtime

Tickets 40/35 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Also available! 2-day pass to Korjaamo for 69 €! Includes the concerts on Wednesday (Anomalie) and Thursday (Kennedy Administration).

Open event

Advance tickets 32,50 €
At the door 36 €

A FOLLOWED NAME IN SOUL AND FUNK, SINGER-BASSIST ADI OASIS TO PERFORM CLUB SHOWS IN FINLAND IN APRIL

Singer-bassist Adi Oasis, who has risen to prominence as a new favorite in rhythm music, is coming to Finland for club performances! The artist, who performed at Pori Jazz last summer, will appear at Tampere's G Livelab and Helsinki's On the Rocks on Tuesday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Adi Oasis is a French-Caribbean singer, composer, and bassist who has gained international recognition for her music blending funk, soul, jazz, and R&B. Before her successful solo career, the artist was known as the singer and bassist for the American band Escort. Since embarking on her solo journey, Adi Oasis has quickly advanced and emerged as a central figure in the rhythm music scene. Her popularity has been especially fueled by her performances, renowned for the artist's magnetic stage charisma.

Open event

Tickets 24 €

touko is a five-piece pop/jazz band, known for their poetic, beautiful lyrics and a sensitive, yet playful atmosphere. The band's latest album uudestaan was released in 2024.

Helka Ruusumetsä - vocals
Laura Valldén - piano, vocals
Lisa Korkman - cello, vocals
Leo Ash - drums
Amos Bonsdorff - saxophone

The evening will be opened by the Helmi Antila Quartet! Helmi Antila (b. 2000) is an impressive singer-composer, violinist and pianist. Antila was awarded the Taimi Award as a young jazz talent by the Finnish Jazz Federation in November 2024.

The Helmi Antila Quartet is a four-piece jazz band consisting of young talents, who have already aroused enormous interest among listeners during their gigs. The band plays jazz and soul-influenced Finnish songs composed and written by Helmi.

Antila's debut album will be released by Kuohu Records in February 2025. The band's players have become known from the bands Saimaa, Stance Brothers, Peela and Honey B & T-Bones.

Helmi Antila (piano and vocals)
Mikko Antila (vibraphone and percussion)
Tuomo Purhonen (double bass)
Mooses Kuloniemi (drums).

Open event