Mia Simanainen & Ahava on FJF concerts in August and October Singer Mia Simanainen's quintet holds an experience of over 14 years of playing together, and they truly master their character and communication. Propped up with double bass, the "new" Ahava performs Finnish poetry, woven into a musical fabric. Simanainen is a versatile vocalist and composer. On Ahava's second album Matka ("Journey", Eclipse Music 2012) Simanainen interpretes Helvi Juvonen's complex and deeply emotional poems. Ahava's instrumentalists Kari Ikonen, Kari "Sonny" Heinilä, Ville Herrala and Mika Kallio are highly talented and visionary musicians, who ensure that the core of the ensemble stays in expressive and well-played jazz music and strong cohesion within the band members, music and lyrics. Mia Simanainen & Ahava is Mia Simanainen - vocals Sonny Heinilä - tenor saxophone and flutes Kari Ikonen - piano Ville Herrala - double bass Mika Kallio - drums www.miasimanainen.info Thu 29.8. Lahti Fri 30.8. Joensuu Sat 31.8. Kuopio Sun 1.9. Jämsä Thu 24.10. Lappeenranta Fri 25.10. Mikkeli Sat 26.10. Riihimäki
Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa on FJF tour in September Orquesta Bossa is a unique combination of two elements: A notable jazz quintet and a celebrated string quartet, who have found just the perfect sound and balance to back up and complete each other. The collective plays trumpeter Eskola's original compositions, which have been enriched by drummer/producer Teppo Mäkynen, who seems to have a golden touch when it comes to jazz that is both, ambitious and yet hugely popular especially in the dancefloor jazz scene. The nine-piece band released their debut album in Japan in May 2013, with the European release date set in September. Jukka Eskola (b. 1978) is one of the most talented and well-known musicians of his generation in Finland. His name is affiliated in such groups and artists as The Five Corners Quintet and Jimi Tenor, and he leads his own Jukka Eskola Quintet. Proton String Quartet was founded in 2005 and they have worked with e.g. accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and pianist/composer Sid Hille. Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa is Jukka Eskola - trumpet Teppo Mäkynen - drums Peter Engberg - acoustic guitar Ville Herrala - bass Petri Puolitaival - flute/saxophone Ilkka Lehtonen - violin Teppo Ali-Mattila - violin Maarit Holkko - alttoviolin Veli-Matti Iljin - cello www.jukkaeskola.com Wed 11.9. Kuopio Thu 12.9. Savonlinna Fri 13.9. Turku Sat 14.9. Isokyrö Wed 18.9. Joensuu Thu 19.9. Lappeenranta Fri 20.9. Espoo
Joonas Haavisto on FJF tour in October Pianist Joonas Haavisto, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Joonas Riippa have all established their positions amongst the Finnish "Top Ten" jazzers. They have played in e.g. UMO Jazz Orchestra, Five Cornes Quintet, Verneri Pohjola Quartet and Mikko Pellinen Mini Big Band. Trio marches proudly on towards their 10-year anniversary, having performed at numerous domestic and international festivals and recently toured in the UK and France. Joonas Haavisto has also enjoyed success in international solo piano competitions such as Jazz Improvizacija in Lithuania 2006, and Nottingham International Solo Piano Competition in 2010. The latest album from this dynamic trio dives into the world of physics and nature, and it is descriptively titled Micro to Macro. Haavisto's intriguing compositions and the fresh Scandinavian breeze in the trio's sound have charmed the critics and audiences in Japan, where the record was voted number one within the newcomers by the country's biggest record stores, Tower Records and Disk Union. The album was released in Japan by Blue Gleam, and in Finland by Fredriksson Music. Joonas Haavisto Trio is Joonas Haavisto - piano Antti Lötjönen - bass Joonas Riippa drums www.joonashaavisto.com Touring dates: Wed 9.10. TBA Thu 10.10. Kajaani Fri 11.10. Kuopio Sat 12.10. Joensuu Wed 16.10. Kokkola Thu 17.10. Pori Fri 18.10. Turku Sat 19.10. Tallinn
Black Motor on FJF tour in November The members of this improvising trio hail from Central Finland and West Coast, but the oil that burns in this machine is drilled from the rich and organic musical ground of Pispala esker, Tampere. That's probably the reason why Black Motor sounds like a brotherhood of jazz and rock. The band narrows its influences down to "the continuum of Afro-American music, the many shades of blues ambiance, from swing to free jazz and punk rock". Tenor saxophonist Sami Sippola, bassist Ville Rauhala and drummer Simo Laihonen have already come a long and productive way since 2005, but after nine releases and hundreds of gigs they seem to always have a bigger gear in their box to turn on. The newest album, Yöstä aamun kynnykselle (Lumpeela Records, 2013) will be released as a double vinyl in fall 2013, and they are also going to studio to record their second TUM Records album with trumpeter Verneri Pohjola. Year 2014 also begins with two big booms: A tour in New York in January, and participating in an extensive Finnish- Norwegian collaboration project, which is touring Finland in January, February and March. The project features such acclaimed musicians as drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, saxman Esa Pietilä and vocal artist Stine Janvin Motland. Black Motor is Sami Sippola - tenor saxophone Ville Rauhala - double bass Simo Laihonen drums www.blackmotor.fi Wed 6.11. Kajaani Thu 7.11. Tornio Fri 8.11. Joensuu Sat 9.11. Kuopio Wed 13.11. Helsinki Thu 14.11. Pori Fri 15.11. Turku Sat 16.11. TBA
Aili Ikonen & Tribute To Ella on FJF tour in December The enchantingly fresh and stylish sextet takes over their audiences with singer Aili Ikonen's nuanced vocals and leader Mikko Pellinen's clever arrangements of traditional vocal jazz classics by the likes of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and George Gershwin. The ambiance sways from romantic ballads to Latin moods and crazy bebop as the band travels through the long and impressive career of the "First Lady Of Song". This tribute ensemble began performing in 2008 and they have now in 2013 released their debut album for Fredriksson Music. The debut album Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella is the first Finnish album focusing on the music of Ella Fitzgerald. Ikonen (b. 1982), known from her own band Aili Ikonen Ensemble, Kvalda and Korpi Ensemble, is said to be one of the few true scat-improvisers in Finland. Bassist and band leader Pellinen (b. 1983) leads also his own Mikko Pellinen Mini Big Band. He's a versatile composer, who makes music also for theatre, short films and dance performances. Aili Ikonen & Tribute to Ella is Aili Ikonen - vocals Mikko Pellinen - bass, arrangements Janne Toivonen - trumpet ja fluegelhorn William Suvanne - saxophones and flute Tuomas J Turunen - piano Mikko Arlin drums www.tributetoella.com Wed 4.12. Lappeenranta Thu 5.12. Joensuu Fri 6.12. Kuopio Sat 7.12. Raahe Wed 11.12. Pori Thu 12.12. Parainen Fri 13.12. Turku Sat 14.12. Tampere