Helsinki Jazz ry 50th Anniversary

The Helsinki Jazz Association was officially founded on 01.04.1974. The association’s roots were at the Jazz Club of University of Helsinki. Our association has organized jazz and improvised music concerts over the years in several venues (such as Annantalo, Espan Lava, Restaurant Laulumiehet and Hakasalmi Villa) in collaboration with different actors and financially supported by different communities. At the beginning of the concert, we will give brief presentation about our past years.

The first concert of our current jaZZanti concert series was held on March 30, 2010 at Restaurant Laulumiehet, when PLOP band and Seppo Kantonen played. This time PLOP will play with Juhani “Junnu” Aaltonen, one of the mainstays of Finnish jazz. Junnu Aaltonen’s trio will also perform. So far, more than 200 concerts have been held in the jaZZanti Concert series.

Our association also aims to highlight jazz musicians and bands from nearby countries, and this time as a foreign artist is a great Estonian pianist Kirke Karja, who is already familiar to many Finnish listeners.

Program changes are possible.

PLOP:
Mikko Innanen: wind instruments
Ville Herrala: double bass
Joonas Riippa: drums

Juhani “Junnu” Aaltonen’s Trio:
Juhani “Junnu” Aaltonen: flute
Uffe Krokfors: double bass
Reiska Laine: drums

Kirke Karja (EE): piano

Duration of the concert for about 2 hours with intermission.

Photo: PLOP – Sakari Puhakka

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.