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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260316T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260316T210000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20260224T134901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T162816Z
UID:6120-1773687600-1773694800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Saga & Jarmo Saari Solu feat. Antti Lötjönen
DESCRIPTION:Saga\nTapani Rinne: bass clarinet and electronics\nUlf Krokfors: double bass\nMarkku Ounaskari: drums \nAt the concert on 16 March\, powerful emotions will be experienced as Saga’s three musicians (Tapani Rinne\, Ulf Krokfors and Markku Ounaskari) present their shared musical world to the audience in a compelling premiere performance. \nThe Finland-Swedish poet Gunnar Björling described his artistic philosophy with the words “my language is not in the words” (“mitt språk är ej i orden”). In the same way\, musicians who think alike recognise one another: behind the sounds there is something “broader\,” something that connects. “We three of us in Saga recognise this in each other and are excited to\, for the first time in this concert\, take the audience into our world — a world that reveals what lies behind the performance.” \nPhotos: Sakari Puhakka \nJarmo Saari Solu feat. Antti Lötjönen\n \nJarmo Saari: guitars\nAntti Lötjönen: double bass\nTeemu Korpipää: mixing \nJarmo Saari Solu is an experimental one-man solo project that sounds like a full orchestra. A pioneer of real-time looping and guitar colourism\, Saari has performed solo in Finland and internationally\, as far as Japan. Rockadillo released the first of three Solu albums in 2004. With that experimental record\, Saari sought to bring the electric guitar into the 21st century. After several years of silence\, Solu returned to the stage in 2023 with a renewed repertoire. \nJarmo Saari (b. 1970) is one of the most distinctive guitarists of his generation. The musician–composer–producer\, who has performed in more than thirty countries and appeared on over one hundred albums\, was awarded the Suomi Price in 2012 for his artistic achievements. He is known for the visual compositional style he has created for concerts\, films\, television\, choreography\, theatre and recordings\, as well as for his multi-layered collages crafted with electric guitar\, the human voice and a variety of rarer instruments such as the theremin\, baroque cello and glass harp. \nOn March 16\, 2026\, at the Hietsu is Happening! concert\, Saari once again paints with a broad brush and\, for the first time\, combines his creative palette with Antti Lötjönen. \nPhoto: Tero Vuorinen \nThe concert is organized in collaboration with the Hietsu Is Happening! concert series. \n \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/saga-jarmo-saari-solu-feat-antti-lotjonen/
LOCATION:Hietsun paviljonki\, Hiekkarannantie 9\, Helsinki\, 00100\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Saga_MV_3_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260309T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260309T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20260215T161137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T154409Z
UID:6100-1773082800-1773088200@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Mikko Pettinen Why Not
DESCRIPTION:Mikko Pettinen: trumpet\, flugelhorn\, cornet\, vocals\, keyboards\, compositions\nJoakim Berghäll: baritone saxophone\, bass clarinet\nVesa Ojaniemi: double bass\nTuomas Timonen: drums \nIn the music of Mikko Pettinen Why Not\, acoustic and electric jazz walk hand in hand\, flavoured with colours drawn from world music and influences emerging from the surrounding environment. The quartet is led by trumpeter Mikko Pettinen\, known from the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble. \nFounded in the autumn of 2018\, the members of Mikko Pettinen Why Not are strongly characterised by their multi-instrumentalism. In addition to brass instruments\, Pettinen also plays keyboards and sings\, adding sonic colours through various effects. A master of wind instruments\, Joakim Berghäll’s arsenal includes\, besides the baritone saxophone\, the bass clarinet. \nTrumpeter Mikko Pettinen (b. 1974)\, a graduate of the Sibelius Academy’s jazz department\, is best known for his long-term position in the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra\, his successful past quartet MP4\, and his 11-piece soul band Happy People. Pettinen has performed on over a hundred recordings alongside Finland’s top musicians—from Paleface to Anssi Kela—and has composed and arranged music for children\, as well as pop\, soul\, and gospel projects. Since 2013\, he has played together with Joakim Berghäll in the internationally acclaimed Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble\, and the idea for their shared jazz group was born out of the musical chemistry and friendship between them. \nThe ensemble mainly performs music from Mikko Pettinen’s tenth album Patient Patient—a personal and touching story of illness\, and at the same time\, an important personal milestone. Pettinen describes the album as a reminder that in the midst of life’s rush\, it is vital to pause and listen to oneself. \n“Many illnesses begin with small symptoms that are easy to overlook when life is full of fun things\, gigs\, and tours. Often\, we only stop when the symptoms prevent us from working. If this album encourages even one hesitant person to seek medical attention in time\, it has fulfilled its purpose\,” Pettinen explains. \nThe compositions on the album emerged as Pettinen processed the emotions—fear\, confusion\, frustration\, and uncertainty—arising from the diagnosis of an ultra-rare condition\, superficial siderosis\, in March 2023. Three tracks were written during his sick leave following ear surgery\, while the title piece Patient Patient is based on the cryptic wording of the surgeon’s report. \nPhoto: Teemu Mattson \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation. \n \n 
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/mikko-pettinen-why-not/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/9B9A6528_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260223T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260223T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20260128T065037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T091213Z
UID:6090-1771873200-1771878600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Ojanen - Nikula - Lötjönen
DESCRIPTION:Eero Ojanen: piano\nHeikki Nikula: bass clarinet\nAntti Lötjönen: double bass \nTrio Nueva Finland was founded in 1993 by Paroni Paakkunainen\, Eero Ojanen\, and Teppo Hauta-aho. They had played together in various contexts since the early 1960s. The trio’s aim was to maintain the art of free improvisation within Finnish jazz. The foundation of the trio’s expression was also the joy of creating music and the free handling of musical elements. \nThe traditions of Trio Nueva Finland are now being continued by a new lineup featuring Eero Ojanen\, Heikki Nikula\, and Antti Lötjönen. All musicians are renowned masters and have played together before — for example\, Eero and Heikki were once members of drummer and visual artist Jonne Kesti’s ensembles. In keeping with Trio Nueva’s original ideals\, we can look forward to hearing truly unique music. \nThe concert is one of the special events celebrating Jazz in Finland 100 Anniversary Year. \nPhotos: Sakari Puhakka \n \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/ojanen-nikula-lotjonen___/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Eero-Heikki-Antti_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260209T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260209T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20260114T135422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T135422Z
UID:6042-1770663600-1770669000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Jimi Ahlroos Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Jimi Ahlroos is a saxophonist and composer originally from Oulu\, who performs actively with his own ensembles and can also be heard as a member of the groups Peela and Unitet. In Ahlroos’ music\, influences from blues and rock are strongly present alongside a modern jazz vocabulary. \nAhlroos made his debut as a bandleader and composer with the EP Jimi Ahlroos Trio\, released by Jazzaggression Records in the autumn of 2024. Shortly after its release\, the record received airplay on\, among others\, Worldwide FM in Gilles Peterson’s radio show\, on Radio Helsinki\, and in Yle’s Jazzklubi program. \nThe Jimi Ahlroos Quartet is a Helsinki-based ensemble that mainly performs Ahlroos’ original compositions. The interplay between saxophone\, trumpet\, double bass\, and drums creates\, through Ahlroos’ writing\, a soundscape that is acoustic\, intimate\, and expressive. In addition to Ahlroos\, the group features the outstanding musicians Rafa Postel (trumpet)\, Tuomo Purhonen (double bass)\, and Mooses Kuloniemi (drums). \nPhoto: Jori Huhtala \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/jimi-ahlroos-quartet/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Jimi-Ahlroos-Quartet_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260107T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20260107T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251207T125345Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251207T125345Z
UID:6021-1767812400-1767817800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Pauli Lyytinen Rabbit Hole
DESCRIPTION:Pauli Lyytinen: saxophone\, ewi\, drum machine\, live electronics\nAndreas Løwe: piano\, synthesiser\, live electronics\nTatu Rönkkö: drums and percussion (substituting for Julian Sartorius\, who performs on the album) \nRabbit Hole is an international trio led by saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen\, where the musical visions of three creative and bold explorers come together. The group’s debut album Rabbit Hole will be released on the Eclipse Music label on January 9\, 2026. In this electro acoustic ensemble\, Lyytinen operates saxophone\, ewi\, drum machine\, and effects; Norwegian musician Andreas Løwe plays processed piano and synthesisers; and drummer Tatu Rönkkö provides the rhythmic foundation. From this rabbit hole emerges a lush sonic landscape that merges rich compositions\, complex rhythmic textures\, and imaginative improvisations. The trio’s guiding motto is Lewis Carroll’s well-known line from Alice in Wonderland:\n“Why\, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” \n“Rabbit Hole is a strikingly full EP whose three parts form their own worlds—and yet parts of the same one. The music is both a key and a mirror through which the Finnish-Norwegian-Swiss trio will hopefully journey to many more places.”\n— Mika Roth\, Desibeli\, May 2025 \nPhoto by Iiro Kaukiainen \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation. \n 
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/pauli-lyytinen-rabbit-hole-2/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pauli-Lyytinen-Rabbit-Hole_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251208T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251208T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251121T164904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251121T170957Z
UID:6000-1765220400-1765225800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Kadi Vija 3
DESCRIPTION:Kadi Vija 3 is a new band from Helsinki\, whose music includes wind instrument trio jazz from the 50s and 60s. Singer Kadi Vija acts as the so-called wind player in the band\, who uses her voice instrumentally and wordlessly. Vija’s compositions are short melodies\, around which there is plenty of space to improvise and communicate\, and this is heard in the band’s music as freedom and joy. \nKadi Vija: voice\nMikael Saastamoinen: double bass\nVille Luukkonen: drums \nPhoto: Jori Huhtala \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/kadi-vija-3/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Kadi-Vija-3_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251126T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251126T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251115T084154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T170426Z
UID:5985-1764183600-1764189000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Tatu Rönkkö solo
DESCRIPTION:Tatu Rönkkö (b.1983) is a percussionist and sound artist who combines everyday objects\, drums and electronics in an original and hypnotic way in his improvised solo concerts. The jaZZanti concert will feature new electro-acoustic experiments. \nPhoto: Johanna Hjorth \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/tatu-ronkko-soolo/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/tatu_1920v.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251124T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251124T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251028T180358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T062109Z
UID:5970-1764010800-1764016200@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Wishamalii (JO/FI)
DESCRIPTION:Nemat Battah: vocals\, oud\nKari Ikonen: piano\, with Maqiano™ microtuner\nAbdissa “Mamba” Assefa: percussion\n\nThis line-up consists of three adventurous musicians from very different geographical and musical backgrounds. Having just released their first album “Al-Bahr” on the German label Nordic Notes\, the band is captivating with its completely unique music\, wide tonal palette\, refined ensemble playing and charming stage charisma. The album was awarded an Indie Awards\, and was nominated for an Emma Award and the German equivalent\, the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik. The name Wishamalii refers to a Nordic way of interpreting Arab-Andalusian Muwashah songs\, although the majority of the band’s repertoire is music composed especially for this band. \nThe package is completed by pianist Kari Ikonen’s revolutionary invention – the Maqiano microtuning device\, which allows him to play maqam modes and other microintervals of Arabic music on an acoustic piano! \nPalestinian-Jordanian singer\, oud player and composer Nemat Battah is an active and respected musician in the world music scene in Finland and Sweden. He also works as a lecturer in the Global Music department of the Sibelius Academy. Award-winning Finnish composer and pianist Kari Ikonen is quite a speciality in today’s music panorama. He is constantly searching for new paths inspired by the different musical cultures of the universe. Ikonen tours the world as a solo pianist and with several Finnish and international ensembles. Ethiopian-born Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa is certainly Finland’s most prominent percussionist\, who naturally blends his own musical rhythmic art into any band\, situation or genre. \nWishamalii has performed in a wide variety of places and events\, including in the middle of the forest. The improvisational band wants to take the situations and special features of the place into account\, and this jaZZanti gig will be performed in an ‘unplugged’ spirit with completely acoustic instruments\, and the program will be adapted to the intimate atmosphere of the villa Hakasalmi. \nPhoto: Anna-Maria Viksten \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/wishamalii-jo-fi/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Wishamalii.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251118T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251118T210000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250910T125019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T062242Z
UID:5903-1763492400-1763499600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Juhani Aaltonen Anniversary Concert
DESCRIPTION:The concert celebrates not only the nine decades of the Grand Old Man of Finnish modern jazz\, Juhani Aaltonen (b. 12 December 1935)\, but also his nearly 70-year-long and still ongoing career as a musician\, composer\, and bandleader. \nAaltonen’s journey as a wind instrumentalist began in the 1950s while he was working in Sweden as a farmhand on the same farm where he had been sent as a war child a little over a decade earlier. Aaltonen became interested in jazz after attending a few concerts in the local People’s Park and bought his first instrument\, an old clarinet\, from a local music shop. Since the clarinet was badly cracked\, he traded it for a tenor saxophone\, which he learned to play with the help of a small instruction booklet that came with its case. After returning home to Inkeroinen\, Aaltonen made music with other local youngsters\, but he soon gave up the idea of pursuing a career as a musician\, sold his saxophone\, and once again left in the late 1950s for Sweden—this time to work in a pulp mill\, escaping Finland’s difficult economic situation. \nAaltonen’s professional career truly began after he returned to Finland and joined the band of the respected Kotka-born trumpeter Heikki Rosendahl\, in which he played baritone saxophone and flute at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. Through this ensemble\, Aaltonen started to gain national recognition. Soon after\, encouraged by another saxophonist/flautist from Kymenlaakso\, Esa Pethman\, he moved to Helsinki and applied to the Sibelius Academy with flute as his main instrument. His sweetheart Riitta also moved from Inkeroinen to Helsinki and has remained his partner and supporter throughout his career. \nAaltonen’s academic path\, however\, proved too restrictive and lasted only for the academic year 1961–62\, after which he left it behind and began working as a freelance musician\, playing for example in Annikki Tähti’s band. Apart from that one year at the Sibelius Academy and a fall semester about a decade later at the Berklee School of Music—interrupted this time for family reasons—Aaltonen has been entirely self-taught. \nWord of the talented multi-instrumentalist soon spread in Helsinki’s music circles—although when he first arrived in the capital Aaltonen mainly played alto saxophone and flute\, he would quickly become known above all as a tenor saxophonist. From there\, he embarked on his career as a studio musician\, which continued well into the 1980s. During those years\, Aaltonen may have taken part in more recordings than any other Finnish musician. \nErik Uddström\nAlongside his studio work\, Aaltonen quickly established himself as one of the key figures in the small circle of musicians who began creating a new Finnish modern jazz in the early 1960s. Aaltonen’s first jazz recording was The Modern Sound of Finland\, recorded in 1964 with Esa Pethman’s ensemble\, which is often regarded as the very first Finnish modern jazz recording. Soon\, Aaltonen also formed close collaborations with three of the most important colleagues in his career: Henrik Otto Donner\, Heikki Sarmanto\, and Edward Vesala\, all of whom in turn sought to work with him. Eero Koivistoinen was likewise a significant partner for several years. From the late 1960s onward\, projects with these musicians led to central Finnish modern jazz recordings of the era\, such as Flowers in the Moon\, Counterbalance\, Like a Fragonard\, and Everything Is It with Heikki Sarmanto; En Soisi Sen Päättyvän and Strings with Otto Donner; Nykysuomalaista\, Nana\, Hot Lotta\, Nan Mandol\, Rodina\, and Satu with Edward Vesala; as well as Odysseus and Wahoo! with Eero Koivistoinen. His collaboration with Edward Vesala also resulted in Aaltonen’s first albums under his own name: Etiquette (1974)\, Springbird (1976)\, and Prana (1981). \nIn addition to studio work and various small groups\, Aaltonen was also one of the founding members of the UMO Jazz Orchestra (Uuden Musiikin Orkesteri) in 1975 and participated in its activities for over a decade\, until in 1986 he was awarded a 15-year artist’s grant and stepped down from its permanent line-up. \nAaltonen was also active in collaborations with Nordic jazz musicians. His participation in the Nordic All Stars ensemble in the early 1970s and in the Scandinavian Jazzensemble in the early 1980s led\, among other things\, to Aaltonen joining bassist Arild Andersen’s quartet. The group’s well-received albums (Green Shading into Blue and Shimri)\, released in the late 1970s\, helped elevate his international status. \nIn the 1980s\, Aaltonen experienced a religious awakening and increasingly devoted himself both to sacred music and the related community activities\, although his collaborations—particularly with Heikki Sarmanto but also with Henrik Otto Donner and\, for example\, Jukka Linkola—continued. \nMaarit Kytöharju\nBy the turn of the millennium\, Aaltonen believed he had already retired from performing modern jazz\, but several younger-generation musicians felt otherwise. First\, Antti Hytti and Jone Takamäki invited him to join the ensemble Suhkan Uhka (Suhka\, 2002)\, and then the group’s bassist and drummer\, Ulf Krokfors and Tom Nekljudow\, persuaded Aaltonen to form a trio with them. The live recording Mother Tongue (2002) by the Juhani Aaltonen Trio was both an artistic triumph and the winner of that year’s Jazz Emma Award. Thus\, retirement was set aside\, and this activity sparked a true renaissance in Aaltonen’s career\, with numerous performances and recordings by the Juhani Aaltonen Trio (later with Reino Laine on drums)\, the Juhani Aaltonen Quartet (with Iro Haarla on piano added to the trio)\, Nordic Trinity (with Mikko Iivanainen and Klaus Suonsaari)\, and many other ensembles. \nThe anniversary concert now being held spans the entire arc of Juhani Aaltonen’s career\, even though many long-time collaborators are no longer with us. Of course\, it prominently features Heikki Sarmanto\, with whom Aaltonen has performed and recorded actively for over six decades; Reino Laine\, whom Aaltonen first met at the legendary Kurvi rehearsal space in Helsinki in the early 1960s\, shortly after his move to the capital; Iro Haarla\, who participated in several late-1970s and early-1980s projects with Aaltonen and Edward Vesala; Raoul Björkenheim and Ulf Krokfors\, who have taken part in many of Aaltonen’s projects in the new millennium; as well as the young members of PLOP. Also Raoul Björkenheim will play. \nPresentation photo: Jori Grönroos \nConcert is organised in co-operation with Savoy theatre. \nConcert duration approx. 2 hours\, includes intermission \nFloor K18 drinking area. Balcony no age limit\, no drinking \nMatti Nives’s article in Finnish Music Quarterly’s publication about Junnu
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/juhani-aaltonen-anniversary-concert/
LOCATION:Savoy Theatre\, Kasarmikatu 46-48\, Helsinki\, 00130\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Junnu-Aaltonen_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251107T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251107T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251004T101801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251004T101801Z
UID:5945-1762542000-1762547400@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Yoko Miura & Heli Hartikainen duo
DESCRIPTION:The Japanese pianist Yoko Miura yearly visits Europe to perform\, and this time she will also make a stop in Finland. Among her musical companions are Gianni Mimmo\, Lawrence Cassery\, Mia Zabelka (jaZZanti 2019)\, Charlie Collins\, Derek Saw\, \, Teppo Hauta-aho\, Olavi Louhivuori\, Antti Lötjönen. More recently\, she has also performed with the Swedish musicians Lars Bröndum and Per Gärdin\, and she arrives in Finland after a concert with Lars and Per in Sweden. \nYoko states: “I try to create different universes that intertwine and exchange various events\, meanings\, and styles with people — not only with musicians but also with painters and dancers.” \nHeli Hartikainen is a boundary-defying saxophonist\, clarinetist\, composer\, and sound artist. Known as a bold improviser in Finland’s experimental music and ambient jazz scenes\, Hartikainen’s music plays with sonic textures and shifting soundscapes\, abstractions\, and concepts – always driven by an insatiable love for sound. Her acclaimed debut solo album\, Chronovariations\, which employs 3D audio technology\, was awarded the Kritiikin Kannukset Prize in 2025 for the year’s most significant artistic breakthrough and was nominated for the 2024 Emma Award for Best Jazz Album. \nIn 2025–2026\, Hartikainen is working on a new electroacoustic composition project with the support of a Kone Foundation grant. At the acoustic jaZZanti concert in November\, she will perform improvisations based on themes developed during this creative process. \nYoko and Heli will each perform a solo section\, followed by a joint improvisation. \nPhotos: Sakari Puhakka \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/yoko-miura-heli-hartikainen-duo/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Yoko-Heli_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251103T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251103T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251004T075952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T060335Z
UID:5932-1762196400-1762201800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Jonathan Bäckström & Marcus Wärnheim duo
DESCRIPTION:Swedish alto saxophonist Marcus Wärnheim and Finnish double bass player Jonathan Bäckström have been playing together as a duo since 2018. Through a long-lasting close collaborative process they are consequently pushing the limits of the intimate duo setting\, exploring sound by embracing the spontaneous\, pre-determined and arbitrary. \nJonathan Bäckström is a Finnish bassist\, composer and improviser\, currently based in Stockholm where he is finishing his master studies at the Royal College of Music. Over the past decade he has made his mark on the Northern European improvisation and jazz scene with his personal voice working in a variety of acoustic\, electroacoustic and cross-disciplinary settings. \nMarcus Wärnheim is a Swedish alto saxophonist and improviser\, currently based in Amsterdam. His artistic output is primarily based in a genuine curiosity of sound\, which he works with through intense listening and a thorough research of the physical possibilities of his instrument.  In recent years he has been preoccupied with acoustic solo performances\, improvisational meetings\, interpretation of other’s compositions as a sideman\, as well as trans-disciplinary collaborations with dancers and circus artists. \nJonathan Bäckström: double bass\nMarcus Wärnheim: alto saxophone \nThe duo will release their first album\, recorded at various concerts\, “Ett” on October 31. It will be available both as a cassette and as a downloadable version via their Bandcamp page. \nPhoto: Sakari Puhakka \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/jonathan-backstrom-marcus-wernheim-duo/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Jonathan-Marcus_B_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251029T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251029T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20251001T074653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T074653Z
UID:5924-1761764400-1761769800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Topias Tiheäsalo solo
DESCRIPTION:Guitarist Topias Tiheäsalo performs versions of compositions he himself calls ‘free jazz ballads.’ His set list features a selection of pieces whose composers range from John Coltrane to Duke Ellington\, and from Don Cherry to Albert Ayler. He seeks to uncover the essence of these works through reduction and simplification\, resulting in almost skeletal interpretations that nevertheless remain vividly alive in the moment. In addition to his own compositions\, Tiheäsalo places the main emphasis on improvisation created within a very open framework. At the centre are tone\, sound\, atmosphere\, and also fleeting silences. \nTopias Tiheäsalo is a Turku-based musician who plays free jazz\, experimental music\, and improvisation in its various forms. Recently\, he has collaborated with\, among others\, Jussi Lehtisalo and Lau Nau. He plays electric guitar music in Pekka Laine’s band The Enchanted\, free jazz in the groups Phardah and Tahmela Six\, performs extensively as a solo artist\, and creates experimental film performances together with visual artist Pauliina Mäkelä under the name Kultapalmut. For over a decade\, Tiheäsalo has also produced special music programs and series for the Yle Radio 1 channel. \nPhoto: Ossi Tuovinen \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/topias-tiheasalo-solo/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/topias_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251027T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251027T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250909T141912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250909T141912Z
UID:5869-1761591600-1761597000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Sergio Castrillón solo
DESCRIPTION:Sergio Castrillón is a cellist and composer deeply dedicated to improvised and experimental music. Within his career Sergio has collaborated with a big number of Finnish and international improvisers and composers\, from diverse music genres and in a variety of ensembles. \nSergio also performs actively as a solo improviser\, featuring in festivals\, series of concerts\, and music happenings around the globe. In his performances and recordings\, Sergio uses different kinds of self made cello modifications\, a “campanula” made by Eero Ristilä\, the “skillo” built by Andrew Bentley\, and the “sercello” designed by himself in collaboration with luthier Markko Sunni. \nThanks to these diverse projects and his innovative approaches\, Sergio Castrillón has established himself as one of the central figures of his generation in the field of cello improvisation and experimental cello music. \nPhoto: Sakari Puhakka \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/sergio-castrillon-solo/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sergio_1920_st.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251021T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251021T180000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250905T134114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250905T134114Z
UID:5857-1761066000-1761069600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Childrens Jazz concert - Luoto Ensemble
DESCRIPTION:The ensemble Luoto emerged from a silent film accompaniment project in early autumn 2024. The ensemble members Aino Juutilainen (cello)\, Merimaija Aalto (violin\, viola\, vocals)\, and Hermanni Yli-Tepsa (violin\, double bass) are three versatile string musicians who place great emphasis on creating and performing music on their instruments\, whether through composition or improvisation. Juutilainen\, Aalto\, and Yli-Tepsa have worked as both performers and creators in fields such as indie music\, jazz\, improvised and experimental music\, as well as performing arts. They build interplay and tonal colours on their string instruments through attentive listening\, creating calm and clear atmospheres and memories\, but also bright\, melancholic\, touching\, and stormy soundscapes. \nIn this children’s concert\, the kids step into the world of music through imagination. The melodies take the listener on a wordless adventure. At times\, the whole audience is swept into the music-making. The concert is suitable for all ages. \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation. \n \n 
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/childrens-jazz-concert-luoto-ensemble/
LOCATION:Oodi\, Maijansali hall\, Töölönlahdenkatu 4\, Helsinki\, 00100\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Mykkis_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250922T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250922T213000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250820T112925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250822T141750Z
UID:5833-1758567600-1758576600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Séverine Morfin Mad Maple and Selma Savolainen & Eero Tikkanen
DESCRIPTION:‘If the trees could share their view of the state of the world\, what would they say? Perhaps that our world has gone mad…’ \nIn the work Mad Maple\, violist Séverine Morfin questions our relationship to nature and its soundscape. The piece\, composed for viola\, guitar\, clarinet\, monotron\, and sound track\, consists of three parts in which written sections are intertwined with improvisation. In addition to the instruments\, tape recordings are heard as a fourth sound source\, containing field recordings and sampled instruments. Sound designer Céline Grangey plays the tapes\, which come alive in the same way as the instruments. \nMad Maple is filled with concern for the state of the Earth (the glacier we hear collapsing in the piece “glacés” has already disappeared)\, while at the same time being an intensely poetic performance. The wind blows along with the viola\, forest birds sing beside Elodie Pasquier’s clarinet\, the glacier engages in dialogue with Guillaume Magne’s guitar… The sounds merge into layers and soon we no longer know where they come from. This diversity of sounds creates a dense music that nevertheless feels natural. The sounds are treated as equals\, blending into a shifting\, living synthesis. \nMaple also means the wood of the maple tree\, from which Séverine Morfin’s viola is made. It was specially built for her by the luthier Patrick Charton\, to whom the piece “Les murmures” is dedicated. Mad Maple builds a connection from the wood of the instrument to the trees of the forest\, bringing us back to nature. These imaginary landscapes help us remember that we are part of the whole. \n“We think of the island\, the sea surrounding the island. The air\, the currents\, the inhaling and exhaling. How much life can fit into a single moment\, into a pause.” \n \nThe journey of vocalist Selma Savolainen and bassist Eero Tikkanen\, which began on the island of Iso-Kraaseli during Raahen Rantajatsit 2021\, has continued at Korpo Sea Jazz 2022\, and in Helsinki on Lammassaari and Tervasaari. After their performances on the islands\, Selma and Eero will come ashore at Hietsu on 22 September 2025 to perform their first mainland concert at the Hietsun Paviljonki. \nVocalist\, composer\, and lyricist Selma Savolainen is known for her powerful yet sensitive interpretations. Her debut solo album Horror Vacui\, released in 2023 on Whirlwind Recordings\, was awarded the Jazz Emma Award for Album of the Year in 2024. Savolainen\, who received the Pori Jazz Rising Talent recognition in 2022\, also performs with groups such as Signe\, Mikko Sarvanne Garden\, and Mikko Innanen’s Uusi Kvintetti. \nThe dynamic bassist Eero Tikkanen is known for his energetic expressiveness and open-mindedness—strengths that define this bold musician. Testimony to this is his ability to master styles ranging from experimental to traditional\, as well as his participation in many cult and alternative groups such as The Mystic Revelation of Teppo Repo\, Joose Keskitalo\, Selma Savolainen Horror Vacui\, Phardah\, and Jorma Tapio & Kaski. \nSéverine Morfin Mad Maple (FR)\nSéverine Morfin: viola\, compositions\nElodie Pasquier: clarinet\, monotron\nGuillaume Magne: guitar\nCéline Grangey: tapes\, sound design \nSelma Savolainen & Eero Tikkanen\nSelma Savolainen: vocals\nEero Tikkanen: double bass \nPhotos: Mad Maple – Maxim Francois and Selma Savolainen & Eero Tikkanen – Maarit Kytöharju \nConcert production: Vapaat Äänet & Finnish Jazz Federation\nThe tour is part of the Better Live project\, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. \nConcert supported by: Creative Europe\, Association Jazzé Croisé\, Institut Français\, Spedidam\, MES\, City of Helsinki and Svenska Kulturfonden.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/severine-morfin-mad-maple-and-selma-savolainen-eero-tikkanen/
LOCATION:Hietsun paviljonki\, Hiekkarannantie 9\, Helsinki\, 00100\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/mad-maple-photo-de-groupe-maxime-francois_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250831T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20251226T213000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250701T143447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250727T185201Z
UID:5765-1756666800-1766784600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Autumn 2025 Programme of Helsinki Jazz Association’s jaZZanti Concert Series
DESCRIPTION:This autumn\, the jaZZanti concert series presents 13 performances of exciting and high-quality jazz and improvised music.\nThe major event of the season is the Juhani “Junnu” Aaltonen Jubilee Concert\, organised in collaboration with the Savoy Theatre on November 18 at 19:00. The evening will feature Junnu performing with Heikki Sarmanto and PLOP\, alongside his trio and quartet. It promises to be a spectacular musical celebration in the company of one of the giants of Finnish jazz. More details will be announced in August. \nDuring the autumn season\, we will also present the Art Breaks Walls recognition award for the third time. \nThe jaZZanti concerts are mainly held in the cosy Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B. All concerts begin at 19:00 unless otherwise noted. \nTicket prices at Villa Hakasalmi: Regular ticket: €22\, seniors\, unemployed\, and members of Helsinki Jazz Association: €17\, students: €14\, duo ticket (for two): €34. Advance tickets will be available later on Helsinki Jazz’s website at the same price as tickets at the door. \nDetailed concert descriptions will be gradually added to this website. \n13.8.25 Toomas Keski-Säntti trio\nToomas Keski-Säntti: piano and compositions\, Joonas Tuuri: double bass\, Teppo Mäkynen: drums. \n18.8.25 Mikko Innanen & Aki Rissanen\nMikko Innanen: reeds\, Aki Rissanen: piano. \n27.8.25 Liudas Mockūnas (LT) & Esa Pietilä\nMikko Innanen: reeds and Esa Pietilä: tenor saxophone . \n22.09.25 Séverine Morfin Mad Maple (FR) ja Selma Savolainen & Eero Tikkanen\nSéverine Morfin: viola and compositions\, Elodie Pasquier: clarinet and monotron synthesiser\, Guillaume Magne: guitar and banjo\, Céline Grangey: audio samples and sound design\, Selma Savolainen: vocals\, Eero Tikkanen: double bass. Organised in collaboration with Hietsu is Happening!\, Vapaat Äänet agency\, and the Better Live project. Ticket prices will be announced later. Venue: Hietsun Paviljonki\, Hiekkarannantie 9. \n21.10.25 Children’s Jazz Concert at Oodi – Luoto String Trio\nMerimaija Aalto: violin\, viola\, vocals; Aino Juutilainen: cello; Hermanni Yli-Tepsa: violin and double bass. Venue: Maija Hall\, Oodi Library at 17:00. Free admission. \n27.10.25 Sergio Castrillón solo\nSergio Castrillón: cello. \n29.10.25 Topias Tiheäsalo solo\nTopias Tiheäsalo: guitars. \n03.11.25 Jonathan Bäckström & Marcus Wernheim (SE)\nMarcus Wernheim: reeds\, Jonathan Bäckström: double bass. \n07.11.25 Yoko Miura (JP) & Heli Hartikainen\nYoko Miura: piano\, Heli Hartikainen: reeds. \n18.11.25 Juhani “Junnu” Aaltonen Jubilee Concert\nJuhani Aaltonen & Heikki Sarmanto duo\, Juhani Aaltonen Trio\, Juhani Aaltonen Quartet\, and PLOP & Junnu.\nLine-up: Juhani Aaltonen: flute\, Heikki Sarmanto: keyboards\, Mikko Innanen: reeds\, Ville Herrala: bass\, Joonas Riippa: drums\, Iro Haarla: piano\, Ulf Krogfors: double bass\, Reiska Laine: drums. There will be an intermission. Further details to be announced. Co-organised with the Savoy Theatre\, Kasarmikatu 46–48. \n24.11.25 Wishamalii\nKari Ikonen: Moog synthesiser and piano (Maqiano™ microtonal tuning system)\, Nemat Battah: vocals and oud\, Abdissa Assefa: percussion. \n26.11.25 Tatu Rönkkö solo\nTatu Rönkkö: percussion \n08.12.25 Kadi Vija 3\nKadi Vija: vocals\, Mikael Saastamoinen: double bass\, Ville Luukkonen: drums. \nKuvassa Heli Hartikainen – kuvaaja Sakari Puhakka \nProgramme subject to change. Updates will be posted on this website. \nOur concerts are supported by the City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden\, and Music Finland LIVE (MES – The Finnish Music Foundation).
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/autumn-2025-programme-of-helsinki-jazz-associations-jazzanti-concert-series/
LOCATION:Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Heli-Hartikainen_1920v.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250827T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250827T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250705T055232Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250705T060249Z
UID:5814-1756321200-1756326600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Duo Mockūnas & Pietilä
DESCRIPTION:Esa Pietilä and Liudas Mockūnas\, both internationally renowned saxophonists and composers known for their masterful playing and captivating compositions\, are now performing together for the very first time. \nTheir natural expression is an explosive fusion of free jazz\, Western contemporary music\, lyricism\, and expressionism\, combined with unconventional and extended saxophone techniques.\nTheir deep exploration of the properties of sound has led them to innovative and highly personal musical approaches. This enables them to break free from stylistic conventions and create an entirely original expression in which two individual voices merge in a truly unique way. \nPhoto: Sakari Puhakka \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/duo-mockunas-pietila/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EM_1920_mv.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250818T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250818T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250702T172244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T173214Z
UID:5801-1755543600-1755549000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Aki Rissanen and Mikko Innanen
DESCRIPTION:Long-time collaborators and individually successful musicians\, pianist Aki Rissanen and saxophonist Mikko Innanen return to the stage with a brand-new program. Recently developed and rehearsed during a residency in Western Uusimaa\, the material delves not only into fundamental questions of art and humanity\, but also into the trivial and seemingly irrelevant details of life. Stylistically\, Aki and Mikko navigate both the traditions of jazz and an alternate reality of the future—where anything goes. \nPhoto: Mikko Innanen \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/aki-rissanen-and-mikko-innanen/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Rissanen-Innanen_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250813T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250813T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250702T130726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250702T134720Z
UID:5786-1755111600-1755117000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Toomas Keski-Säntti trio
DESCRIPTION:Helsinki-based pianist and composer Toomas Keski-Säntti recorded his debut album Unearth while living in New York City. Released in March 2025 on the Spanish label Fresh Sound\, the album marks the acclaimed pianist’s first appearance as a bandleader. \nTo bring the music of the album to life\, Keski-Säntti assembled a group of top-tier musicians from Finland’s jazz scene. For this concert\, the band performs as a trio\, presenting both compositions from Unearth and newer works. Drummer Teppo Mäkynen and double bassist Joonas Tuuri have long been Keski-Säntti’s trusted musical collaborators. \nIn Keski-Säntti’s powerful compositions\, the energy of the metropolis meets the clarity and openness of Nordic soundscapes in a compelling way. The trio’s dynamic is defined by the equal opportunity of each musician to steer the music in unexpected directions. \nKeski-Säntti is a familiar name in many of Finland’s leading jazz ensembles\, including OK:KO\, Jukka Perko PreBoppers\, and Selma Savolainen Horror Vacui\, the latter of which won a Jazz Emma Award last year. He has performed actively at clubs and festivals across Europe as well as in New York. \nPhoto: Severi Uusitalo \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/toomas-keski-santti-trio/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/toomas_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250721T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250721T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250617T133734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250617T133734Z
UID:5760-1753124400-1753129800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:NoSax NoClar
DESCRIPTION:The woodwind duo NoSax NoClar has captivated audiences across Europe with their deep sound and seamless interplay. The French pair\, who performed at the Etnosoi! festival in autumn 2023\, will be in Finland for an artist residency from July 20 to 26 and will perform in Helsinki\, Seinäjoki\, and at the Raahe Jazz on the Beach festival. \nThe name says it all – how to do more with less? Is a duo simply a dialogue between saxophone and clarinet? How to go further? How to capture attention with the power of two breaths? \nBastien Weeger and Julien Stella have discovered\, through this project\, a formula whose full dimensions they could not have imagined. Each piece\, each program is for them an opportunity to explore the art of dialogue as a duo. NoSax NoClar finds excuses in everything to seek new ways to play their instruments (clarinet\, bass clarinet\, alto and soprano saxophone). A play of textures – but especially rhythms – is at the heart of their music. They perform with virtuosic fearlessness\, making the audience almost forget there are only two musicians on stage. \nNoSax NoClar was selected for the prestigious Jazz Migration touring program in 2019. Since then\, the duo has released three albums on the Yolk label: Kahmsïn (2020)\, Rëd Sisters (2021)\, and No Dåhïss (2023). \nJulien Stella: clarinet\, bass clarinet\, compositions\nBastien Weeger: alto and soprano saxophone\, clarinet\, compositions \nPhoto: Jeff Rabillon \nConcert production: Vapaat äänet & Aux heures d’été – Artists in Residence – Sounds of Europe: Co-funded by the European Union \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki and Svenska Kulturfonden.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/nosax-noclar/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/nosax-noclar-1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250611T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250611T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250519T170858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T170858Z
UID:5747-1749668400-1749673800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Vespera Quartet
DESCRIPTION:Martti Vesala: trumpet\nAino Juutilainen: cello\nMikko Antila: vibraphone\nJoonas Tuuri: double bass \nThe ensemble brings together some of today’s most exciting Finnish musicians active in jazz and improvised music. They perform original compositions by its members\, leveraging their unique lineup’s arranging possibilities as well as each instrument’s special techniques and tonal characteristics to create a richly textured soundscape. \nVespera Quartet’s music is cinematic and melodic\, blending small-group jazz\, modern classical\, and improvisation. Their arrangements are characterised by a sense of space\, airiness\, and playfulness. \nPhoto: Verna Kovanen \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/vespera-quartet/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2024_Vespera_eyes_photo-Verna_Kovanen_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250609T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250609T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250516T081033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250516T081033Z
UID:5739-1749495600-1749501000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Joakim Berghäll & Adele Sauros: Poems for Peace
DESCRIPTION:Adele Sauros: tenor and soprano saxophone\nJoakim Berghäll: baritone saxophone and cello \nJoakim Berghäll & Adele Sauros is a duo that has performed at Viapori Jazz\, the We Jazz Festival\, and in Germany and Austria. Poems for Peace is an emotional\, meditative manifesto for peace. \n“Acoustic soul massage” \nRoland Holtzwarth\nThe compositions featured in the concert originate from a solo improvisation performed by Berghäll in a single take. The catalyst for this improvisation was anti-war poems written in various conflict zones around the world\, which served as abstract inspiration for the music. The melodic themes of the compositions were transcribed exactly as they emerged\, without altering a single note\, remaining faithful to the impulses of the improvisation. The audience will also get a first taste of the duo’s upcoming project. \nPhoto: Sakari Puhakka \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/joakim-berghall-adele-sauros-poems-for-peace/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Adele-Sauros-ja-Jusu-Berghall_W_9.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250605T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250605T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250513T082828Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T081236Z
UID:5717-1749150000-1749155400@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Ida Alanen trio
DESCRIPTION:Ida Alanen Trio is one of the most exciting Finnish jazz ensembles of the moment. The trio is led by Helsinki-born Ida Alanen\, who is currently completing her master’s studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under the guidance of Harmen Fraanje. Double bassist Jonathan Bäckström and drummer Benjamin Nylund are also known as a rhythm section from\, among others\, the Jonathan Bäckström Quartet. All three are rapidly rising talents with strong and distinctive musical voices. \nThe trio’s repertoire consists mainly of Alanen’s compositions\, which the group has been working on intensively over the past few years. Alanen’s music draws inspiration from visual forms\, organic textures\, and dream imagery. Her distinctive style as a composer and improviser incorporates influences from various musical traditions\, including minimalism\, 20th-century composers\, and folk music. As a pianist\, Alanen is fascinated by melodicism and a stripped-down\, poetic aesthetic. As a composer\, she values harmonic richness\, a unique use of color\, a sense of space\, and attention to detail. Within the trio\, there is a seamless musical connection\, and the group moves effortlessly between carefully orchestrated compositions and free improvisation. \nThe trio’s debut album Awake Asleep explores landscapes on the borderlands between dreaming and wakefulness\, bringing images from the subconscious into the light of day. The album’s themes intertwine the symbolism of sleep and wakefulness with other contrasting opposites\, such as dark and light\, lifeless and living\, subconscious and conscious. The album was released in autumn 2023 in collaboration with the Norwegian record label AMP Music & Records. The production of the album was supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation\, and it was also released in Dolby Atmos surround sound format\, making it one of the first Finnish jazz albums to do so. This strong debut brought the trio into the spotlight on both the Finnish and European jazz scenes. \n“Awake Asleep is a wonderful debut from the Ida Alanen Trio. Highly engaging\, quietly intoxicating\, and sumptuously imagined. Highly recommended listening.”\n– Mike Gates\, UK Vibe\, 9.12.2023 \n“It is evident that these musicians will be at the forefront of our jazz scene in the future. Alanen creates her music with modern touches\, while remaining aware of the traditions of jazz pianism. She honors melodic expression and is deeply poetic.”\n– Marita Nyrhinen\, Kulttuuritoimitus album review\, 18.12.2023 \n“Awake Asleep maps imaginary landscapes\, drawing inspiration from Alanen’s colorful dreams. The pieces feel impressionistic\, though the meditative approach condenses the atmosphere into soaring states of mind.”\n– Juha Seitz\, Ilkka-Pohjalainen\, 11.12.2023 \n“I sometimes use the word ‘beautiful’ too lightly\, but if any album deserves it\, it is Awake Asleep. In several ways and on several levels.”\n– Mika Roth\, Desibeli.net\, 26.11.2023 \nPhoto: Milana Törmi \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/ida-alanen-trio/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ida-Alanen-Trio-2-photo_-Milena-Tormi_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250526T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250526T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250411T104152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250411T104152Z
UID:5701-1748286000-1748291400@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Valjakka & Vannesluoma: En Soufflant
DESCRIPTION:Jazz pianist Juho Valjakka and jazz singer Josefiina Vannesluoma dive into their experiences with classical music and flute playing in their new duo project. \nAt the heart of Valjakka & Vannesluoma’s music\, described as acoustic avant-garde\, are listening\, intuition\, and playfulness. The French title En Soufflant (meaning “blowing\, whispering” in Finnish) refers to the duo’s shared background as classical flutists. Their music contains references to flute playing through breathing phrases\, flute-like tones\, and inventive textures\, where two bright-voiced soloists challenge the traditional singer-accompanist dynamic. The repertoire also draws inspiration from gems of classical flute music\, with the concert featuring glimpses of a flute sonata that once moved a young heart\, as well as a scat interpretation of a flutist’s articulation étude. \nJuho Valjakka is a pianist and composer specializing in jazz and improvised music\, fascinated by artistic ambiguity and the possibilities of undefined expression. In addition to his critically acclaimed Juho Valjakka Trio\, which has been nominated for a Jazz Emma award\, he has performed with several of Finland’s leading jazz ensembles\, including UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra\, Lassy–Eskola Nordic Stew\, and Riikka Keränen. \nJosefiina Vannesluoma\, originally from Turku\, is a singer and composer who has received no less than three Jazz Emma nominations. Her artistic expression reflects an interest in interdisciplinary art and diverse musical cultures. In addition to leading Mortal Lease\, she also directs Signe\, a vocal ensemble with an unusual instrumentation of four voices and a double bass. Vannesluoma’s clear high register is also heard in Mikko Sarvanne Garden\, the winner of the 2023 Teosto Prize. \nJuho Valjakka: piano\nJosefiina Vannesluoma: vocals\, flute \nPhoto: Nawras Odda \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/valjakka-vannesluoma-en-soufflant/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Valjakka-Vannesluoma_by-NawrasOdda_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250503T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250503T213000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250406T142001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250501T195749Z
UID:5652-1746298800-1746307800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:SoundScapes #5 - Festival for Contemporary Improvised Music\, day 1
DESCRIPTION:On May 2–3\, the SoundScapes #5 festival at Louhisali\, Espoo Cultural Centre\, brings together domestic and international virtuosos of modern improvised music. Exciting artist constellations\, formed from this 13-member ensemble\, will take the audience on a two-day journey through fascinating\, spontaneously created soundscapes. Here\, there are no predetermined rules – an open mind\, quick reactions\, and the courage to dive into the unknown are the festival’s driving forces. During the concerts\, music is born in the moment\, making each performance a unique experience. \nThe festival’s artistic ensemble features\, among others\, pioneering figures in improvisational music such as Giancarlo Schiaffini and Philipp Wachsmann. The artistic soul and creator of the SoundScapes festival concept is Finnish saxophonist Harri Sjöström\, who will also perform at the event. Since the 1980s\, Sjöström has been active in Berlin\, playing a key role in promoting improvised music as well as fostering artistic networks and collaborations. \nSoundScapes #5 is more than just a concert – it is a unique\, interactive artistic experience where the audience is an integral part of the whole. The festival transcends boundaries\, not only musically but also between cultures and forms of expression\, creating a deep dialogue through improvisation and collective listening. Explore the published program and artist lineups! \nHelsinki Jazz assists Espoo Cultural Centre with practical arrangements. \nDoors open at 18:45 18:45\nConcert duration approx. 2h 15 min \nArtists:\nLiz Allbee: trumpet\nCristiano Calcagnile: drums & percussion\nSergio Castrillón: cello\nJohn Edwards: double bass\nLori Freedman: bass clarinet\nAchim Kaufmann: piano\nVeli Kujala: accordion\nJukka Kääriäinen: guitar & electronics\nLibero Mureddu: piano\nGiancarlo Schiaffini: trombone\nHarri Sjöström: soprano and sopranino saxophone\nEls Vandeweyer: vibraphone & percussion\nPhilipp Wachsmann: violin & electronics \nProgram – Friday\, May 2\, 2025\nFirst part / 60 min/ 15 min per group \nThe Eternal Beginning (quintet)\nCalcagnile – Edwards – Freedman – Kaufmann – Kääriäinen\nDrums & percussion – double bass – bass clarinet – piano – guitar & electronics \nLumiuni (duo)\nAllbee – Castrillón\ntrumpet – cello \nWe Meet Again (duo)\nMureddu – Wachsmann\nPiano – violin & electronics \nJust Eikä Melkeen (kvartetti)\nKujala – Schiaffini – Sjöström – Vandeweyer\nAccordion – trombone – soprano & sopranino saxophone – vibraphone \nSecond part/ 60 min/ 15 min per group\nTähtitytöt (trio)\nAllbee – Freedman – Vandeweyer\nTrumpet – bass clarinet – vibraphone \nThree Meters Dog (trio)\nCastrillón – Kaufmann – Kujala\nCello – piano – accordion \nPikkupalat (duo)\nSchiaffini – Wachsmann\nTrombone – violin & electronics \nMaustepojat (quintet)\nCalcagnile – Edwards – Kääriäinen – Mureddu – Sjöström\nDrums & percussion – double bass – guitar & electronics – piano – soprano & sopranino saxophone \n  \n 
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/soundscapes-5-festival-for-contemporary-improvised-music-day-1/2025-05-03/
LOCATION:Louhisali\, Kulttuuriaukio 2\, Espoo\, 02100\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/soundscapes-banner-facebook.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250503T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250503T213000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250406T141918Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250406T141918Z
UID:5669-1746298800-1746307800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:SoundScapes #5 - Festival for Contemporary Improvised Music\, 2. day
DESCRIPTION:On May 2–3\, the SoundScapes #5 festival at Louhisali\, Espoo Cultural Centre\, brings together domestic and international virtuosos of modern improvised music. Exciting artist constellations\, formed from this 13-member ensemble\, will take the audience on a two-day journey through fascinating\, spontaneously created soundscapes. Here\, there are no predetermined rules – an open mind\, quick reactions\, and the courage to dive into the unknown are the festival’s driving forces. During the concerts\, music is born in the moment\, making each performance a unique experience. \nThe festival’s artistic ensemble features\, among others\, pioneering figures in improvisational music such as Giancarlo Schiaffini and Philipp Wachsmann. The artistic soul and creator of the SoundScapes festival concept is Finnish saxophonist Harri Sjöström\, who will also perform at the event. Since the 1980s\, Sjöström has been active in Berlin\, playing a key role in promoting improvised music as well as fostering artistic networks and collaborations. \nSoundScapes #5 is more than just a concert – it is a unique\, interactive artistic experience where the audience is an integral part of the whole. The festival transcends boundaries\, not only musically but also between cultures and forms of expression\, creating a deep dialogue through improvisation and collective listening. Explore the published program and artist lineups! \nHelsinki Jazz assists Espoo Cultural Centre with practical arrangements. \nDoors open at 18:45\nConcert duration approx. 2h 15 min \nArtists:\nLiz Allbee: trumpet\nCristiano Calcagnile: drums & percussion\nSergio Castrillón: cello\nJohn Edwards: double bass\nLori Freedman: bass clarinet\nAchim Kaufmann: piano\nVeli Kujala: accordion\nJukka Kääriäinen: guitar & electronics\nLibero Mureddu: piano\nGiancarlo Schiaffini: trombone\nHarri Sjöström: soprano and sopranino saxophone\nEls Vandeweyer: vibraphone & percussion\nPhilipp Wachsmann: violin & electronics \nProgram – Saturday\, May 3\, 2025\nFirst part / 60 min / 15 min per group\nUpandout (kvartetti)\nCalcagnile – Kaufmann – Mureddu – Vandeweyer\nDrums & percussion – piano – piano – vibraphone \nSiika Quintet (kvintetti)\nCastrillón – Edwards – Kääriäinen – Kujala – Wachsmann\nCello – double bass – guitar & electronics – accordion – violin & electronics \nTuuliset (kvartetti)\nAllbee – Freedman – Schiaffini – Sjöström\nTrumpet – bass clarinet – trombone – soprano & sopranino saxophone \nSecond Part / 60 min/ 15 min per group\nJust Nyt! (sekstetti)\nAllbee – Edwards – Kaufmann – Kujala – Sjöström – Wachsmann\nTrumpet – double bass – piano – accordion – soprano & sopranino saxophone – violin & electronics \nNovoivoi (trio)\nCalcagnile – Castrillón – Kääriäinen\nDrums & percussion – cello – guitar & electronics \nLoops (kvartetti)\nFreedman – Mureddu – Schiaffini – Vandeweyer\nBass clarinet – piano – trombone – vibraphone \n13 – 4 – Teppo (tutti)\nIn memory of Teppo Hauta-aho\nAllbee – Calcagnile – Castrillón – Edwards – Freedman – Kaufmann – Kujala -Kääriäinen – Mureddu – Schiaffini – Sjöström – Vandeweyer – Wachsmann
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/soundscapes-5-festival-for-contemporary-improvised-music-2-day/
LOCATION:Louhisali\, Kulttuuriaukio 2\, Espoo\, 02100\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/soundscapes-banner-facebook.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250502T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250502T213000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250406T142001Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250501T195748Z
UID:5650-1746212400-1746221400@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:SoundScapes #5 - Festival for Contemporary Improvised Music\, day 1
DESCRIPTION:On May 2–3\, the SoundScapes #5 festival at Louhisali\, Espoo Cultural Centre\, brings together domestic and international virtuosos of modern improvised music. Exciting artist constellations\, formed from this 13-member ensemble\, will take the audience on a two-day journey through fascinating\, spontaneously created soundscapes. Here\, there are no predetermined rules – an open mind\, quick reactions\, and the courage to dive into the unknown are the festival’s driving forces. During the concerts\, music is born in the moment\, making each performance a unique experience. \nThe festival’s artistic ensemble features\, among others\, pioneering figures in improvisational music such as Giancarlo Schiaffini and Philipp Wachsmann. The artistic soul and creator of the SoundScapes festival concept is Finnish saxophonist Harri Sjöström\, who will also perform at the event. Since the 1980s\, Sjöström has been active in Berlin\, playing a key role in promoting improvised music as well as fostering artistic networks and collaborations. \nSoundScapes #5 is more than just a concert – it is a unique\, interactive artistic experience where the audience is an integral part of the whole. The festival transcends boundaries\, not only musically but also between cultures and forms of expression\, creating a deep dialogue through improvisation and collective listening. Explore the published program and artist lineups! \nHelsinki Jazz assists Espoo Cultural Centre with practical arrangements. \nDoors open at 18:45 18:45\nConcert duration approx. 2h 15 min \nArtists:\nLiz Allbee: trumpet\nCristiano Calcagnile: drums & percussion\nSergio Castrillón: cello\nJohn Edwards: double bass\nLori Freedman: bass clarinet\nAchim Kaufmann: piano\nVeli Kujala: accordion\nJukka Kääriäinen: guitar & electronics\nLibero Mureddu: piano\nGiancarlo Schiaffini: trombone\nHarri Sjöström: soprano and sopranino saxophone\nEls Vandeweyer: vibraphone & percussion\nPhilipp Wachsmann: violin & electronics \nProgram – Friday\, May 2\, 2025\nFirst part / 60 min/ 15 min per group \nThe Eternal Beginning (quintet)\nCalcagnile – Edwards – Freedman – Kaufmann – Kääriäinen\nDrums & percussion – double bass – bass clarinet – piano – guitar & electronics \nLumiuni (duo)\nAllbee – Castrillón\ntrumpet – cello \nWe Meet Again (duo)\nMureddu – Wachsmann\nPiano – violin & electronics \nJust Eikä Melkeen (kvartetti)\nKujala – Schiaffini – Sjöström – Vandeweyer\nAccordion – trombone – soprano & sopranino saxophone – vibraphone \nSecond part/ 60 min/ 15 min per group\nTähtitytöt (trio)\nAllbee – Freedman – Vandeweyer\nTrumpet – bass clarinet – vibraphone \nThree Meters Dog (trio)\nCastrillón – Kaufmann – Kujala\nCello – piano – accordion \nPikkupalat (duo)\nSchiaffini – Wachsmann\nTrombone – violin & electronics \nMaustepojat (quintet)\nCalcagnile – Edwards – Kääriäinen – Mureddu – Sjöström\nDrums & percussion – double bass – guitar & electronics – piano – soprano & sopranino saxophone \n  \n 
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/soundscapes-5-festival-for-contemporary-improvised-music-day-1/2025-05-02/
LOCATION:Louhisali\, Kulttuuriaukio 2\, Espoo\, 02100\, Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/soundscapes-banner-facebook.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250430T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250430T233000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250421T103411Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250421T103411Z
UID:5709-1746000000-1746055800@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:UNESCO International Jazz Day Celebrates Jazz as a Messenger of Peace and Intercultural Dialogue on April 30
DESCRIPTION:April 30 marks the celebration of UNESCO’s International Jazz Day. In addition to highlighting jazz’s intrinsic artistic value\, the day promotes messages of peace\, intercultural collaboration\, and respect for human dignity and human rights. The Finnish Jazz Federation is organizing a week-long Jazz Day campaign\, fronted this year by jazz musicians Johanna Iivanainen and Jukka Eskola. \nCelebrated annually on April 30\, UNESCO’s International Jazz Day honours jazz music and its role as a messenger of intercultural dialogue and peace. In Finland\, the celebrations kick off already on April 21 with the Jazz Day campaign\, which highlights domestic jazz events and festivities for over a week. \nBeyond jazz’s artistic merit\, the broader message of the day – intercultural cooperation\, peace\, and respect for human dignity and rights – is especially timely against the backdrop of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The figurehead of International Jazz Day\, legendary pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock\, has aptly described the essence of jazz as follows: “Jazz has hope and solidarity\, which we all need right now.” \nIn 2025\, the faces of the Finnish Jazz Federation’s Jazz Day campaign are vocalist Johanna Iivanainen and trumpeter Jukka Eskola. \nBoth Iivanainen and Eskola emphasize the essence of freedom in jazz. \n“Jazz is rooted in strong interaction\, collaboration\, and individual freedom. It’s about diving into new encounters and situations\, anchored by presence and mutual respect. That’s where peace and love arise\,” Iivanainen explains. \n“Jazz is a celebration of freedom\, rhythm\, and emotion. It lives in the moment\, surprises\, and sweeps you away. Jazz knows no borders – there’s no right or wrong\, only openness and tolerance\,” Eskola sums up. \nInternational Jazz Day and the Jazz Day Campaign \nIn 2011\, the United Nations Educational\, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated April 30 as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people around the world. For over a decade\, jazz has been officially recognized as an art form that promotes peace\, intercultural dialogue\, diversity\, and respect for human rights and dignity. \nInternational Jazz Day is led by legendary pianist and composer Herbie Hancock\, who serves as UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and chair of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. \nIn 2025\, the Finnish Jazz Federation invites all Finns to join the celebration of UNESCO’s International Jazz Day through the Jazz Day campaign.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/unesco-international-jazz-day-celebrates-jazz-as-a-messenger-of-peace-and-intercultural-dialogue-on-april-30/
LOCATION:Suomi
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/JAZZPAIVA25_FB_COVER_1920x1005.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250414T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250414T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250313T134130Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T134130Z
UID:5611-1744657200-1744662600@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Aki Rissanen - Steven Kamperman Duo & Selma Savolainen
DESCRIPTION:THOU SHALT worship the rich and famous\n10+1 Commandments of our time \nThe whole project is about a clash between tradition and modernity. It has an ironic/humoristic touch\, but the music is definitely sincere! \nThe trio met in Paris in the spring of 2023 and quickly found a shared musical language through improvisation during a concert at the Cité Des Arts auditorium in the heart of Paris. The duo Rissanen – Kamperman decided to record the music for an album\, which will be released by Eclipse Music in the spring of 2025. \nIn this project\, together with singer Selma Savolainen\, we reinterpret the Ten Commandments of the Bible in our own versions\, critically reflecting on contemporary society. The music moves between composition and improvisation and does not shy away from humour at times. After all\, how else could one respond to the state of the world today? \nAki Rissanen: piano\nSteven Kamperman (NL): clarinets\nSelma Savolainen: vocals \nPhoto: Aki Rissanen \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/aki-rissanen-steven-kamperman-duo-selma-savolainen/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Aki-Rissanen-Steven-Kamperman-Selma-Savolainen_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250410T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Helsinki:20250410T203000
DTSTAMP:20260405T150824
CREATED:20250218T163458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250221T162926Z
UID:5597-1744311600-1744317000@helsinkijazz.fi
SUMMARY:Roope Kantonen 3 - Introducing - Feat. Joris Roelofs (record release concert)
DESCRIPTION:Roope Kantonen is a jazz drummer\, composer\, and educator who was awarded the title of Jazz Musician of the Year 2022 by Jazzmuusikot ry. He holds a master’s degree in jazz music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Having moved from the Netherlands to Finland in 2021\, Kantonen has performed on twelve albums and played with numerous ensembles not only in Finland but also across Europe. He is a familiar face in the Helsinki jazz scene\, particularly as the host of the jazz jams at Sörkan Ruusu. \nWith their debut album Introducing\, Roope Kantonen 3 presents a fresh new voice in the Finnish jazz landscape. The work takes the listener into a distinctive world where freedom\, sensitivity\, subtlety\, and strong dynamic interplay merge. The trio’s unique sound is built upon the absence of a harmonic instrument and the eccentric timbre of the bass clarinet. The group draws inspiration from both traditional jazz and modern\, experimental musical languages. Introducing consists of original compositions by each of the trio’s members\, ranging from deep\, meditative moments and intense improvisation to rhythmic playfulness. \nThe bass clarinet is played by Max Zenger\, known from Kaisa’s Machine and UMO\, while the double bass is handled by Juuso Rinta\, who has played with Hector Lepe Quartet and Tuomo Uusitalo Trio. \nThis concert is special as the trio will be joined by a distinguished guest\, the Dutch bass clarinettist\, composer\, and philosopher Joris Roelofs. \nJoris Roelofs began studying clarinet at the age of six and added the saxophone to his repertoire at twelve. At sixteen\, he performed the clarinet theme in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as a soloist with Orkest van het Oosten. Between 2003 and 2018\, he was the lead alto saxophonist in the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw and spent five years as a musician in the Vienna Art Orchestra. Over the years\, he has collaborated with numerous jazz luminaries\, including Brad Mehldau\, Lionel Loueke\, Jeff Ballard\, and Vanguard Jazz Orchestra\, as well as recently with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. \nAfter earning his master’s degree from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2007\, Joris moved to New York\, where he recorded seven albums under his name\, including his debut Introducing Joris Roelofs (2008). His latest release\, Rope Dance: Light-Footed Music for All and None (2021)\, received five-star reviews from De Volkskrant and BBC Music Magazine. \nAs a composer\, Joris has written music for a wide range of ensembles\, from solo bassoon to big bands and symphony orchestras. He currently works as the coordinator of the jazz clarinet department at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam\, where he also teaches and gives lectures on the relationship between music and philosophy. In addition to his work as a musician and educator\, he is pursuing a Ph.D. on Nietzsche\, improvisation\, and the concept of freedom and is a member of the international Nietzsche research group in Stuttgart\, Germany. \nJoris Roelofs: bass clarinet\nMax Zenger: bass clarinet\nJuuso Rinta: double bass\nRoope Kantonen: drums \nPhotos: Roope Kantonen – Teemu Kekkonen\, Juuso Rinta – Olli Sulin\, Joris Roelofs – Hielke Grootendorst\, Max Zenger – Olli Sulin \nThe concert is supported by City of Helsinki\, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
URL:https://helsinkijazz.fi/en/events/roope-kantonen-3-introducing-feat-joris-roelofs-record-release-concert/
LOCATION:Villa Hakasalmi\, Mannerheimintie 13B\, Helsinki\, 00100
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://helsinkijazz.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kollaasi-RK3-feat.-Joris_1920.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Helsinki Jazz ry":MAILTO:info@helsinkijazz.fi
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR