Jazz Finland Live

Praised for her powerful solo albums and genre-defying artistry, Aili Järvelä joins forces with the Tapiola Sinfonietta in a captivating concert where modern songwriting meets symphonic sound.

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Saxophonist and composer Esa Pietilä brings his renewed Liberty Ship ensemble to April Jazz, presenting the premiere of a new large-scale composition.

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An evening of bold, boundary-crossing music: Robinson Khoury’s new electroacoustic trio MŸA and the culturally rich trio Wishamalii.

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Free entry

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The highly respected Finnish jazz drummer and composer Jukkis Uotila will bring an international quintet to Finland in April 2026.

Now 65, Jukkis has enjoyed a long career performing with American bands as well. He has assembled a group of younger virtuosos, including the already well-known saxophonist Seamus Blake and trumpeter Gerard Presencer, alongside pianist Holger Marjamaa and bassist Alexander Claffy—young masters who have risen to the international musical elite at rocket speed.

Jukkis Uotila’s band performs vibrant, modern, groove-driven jazz. The moods of the pieces range from fiery, high-energy performances to sensitive, serene ballads. In addition to Jukkis’s own compositions, the program will feature works by Seamus Blake and Holger Marjamaa.

Jukkis Uotila, drums
Seamus Blake, saxophone
Gerard Presencer, trumpet
Holger Marjamaa, piano
Aleksander Claffy, double bass

Duration approx. 2 h (including intermission).

Oulu is the European Capital of Culture in 2026. The concert is part of the Oulu2026 cultural programme and the cultural climate change.

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“He’s not the future of European jazz, he’s the present.”
(Brian Morton, Downbeat, 2022)

Norwegian saxophonist and composer Marius Neset is a captivating and unrestrained force of nature—both on stage and on record—who amazes, entertains, and draws audiences in. A remarkably versatile musician, he has ventured not only into jazz but also into classical music and even progressive rock.

His fascinating musical journey began early. The distinctive sense of rhythm that characterizes Neset’s work was shaped when he first took up music at the age of five—behind a drum kit.

He picked up the saxophone at eight, and by his early twenties he was already recognized as one of Europe’s most exciting jazz prospects. His breakthrough came with the acclaimed Golden Xplosion album in 2011, followed by numerous solo releases on Edition Records and ACT.

Neset has received a long list of awards and accolades, both in Norway and internationally. For instance, DownBeat magazine named him the only European artist on its prestigious “25 for the Future” list in 2016.

His versatility shines especially in his compositions, which have been performed by jazz ensembles of various sizes as well as chamber and symphony orchestras. His ability to create moving moments and to explore new directions in both writing and performance has led him to collaborate with top musicians across genres.

Marius Neset’s quintet features leading figures of contemporary European jazz. From London come keyboardist Elliot Galvin and bassist Conor Chaplin, while Copenhagen is represented by drummer Anton Eger.

At the beginning of 2025, Neset will release Cabaret, a new album with his beloved quintet—a celebration of friendship and music. Recorded on a remote island, the album captures the deep chemistry of this close-knit group as well as the rich, diverse musical heritage from around the world that has shaped Neset’s voice since childhood.

And best of all, Marius Neset’s adventure at the edge of jazz’s boundless possibilities is only just beginning.

The concert has intermission.

Marius Neset (sax)
Elliot Galvin (keys)
Conor Chaplin (bass)
Anton Eger (drums)

_{In 2026, it will be 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland with the ship Andania. The year thus marks a historic centenary celebration for Finnish jazz: Jazz in Finland 100. The anniversary highlights Finnish jazz and its artists both in Finland and abroad, celebrating jazz as part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.}

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