TURKU JAZZ FESTIVAL 2024 – PROGRAMME

All times Eastern European Time (UTC +2)

Friday, 1 March

7:00 PM Silentopia – Miten metsä vastaa?
Turku City Theatre, Small Stage
Tickets 18–39 € at Lippu.fi

On the opening weekend of the Turku Jazz Festival, Tanssiteatteri Sivuun Ensemble invites the public to a ritualistic nature chapel to experience emotions related to the environmental crisis. Musicians, dancers and scientists transport the viewer from the pain and fear of our era to hope and trust. Award-winning choreographer Ninni Perko’s frantic, sensitive, sacred rite of passage visualizes new possibilities and worlds, building bridges to the future.

The music of Silentopia was composed together by Jarmo Saari, Anni Elif and Pauli Lyytinen. The ensemble’s genre distribution runs from chamber music through free jazz to electroacoustic. Paavo Malmberg, the sound designer of the piece, is the band’s fourth member.

The duration of the show is approx. 2 hours, including an intermission.

Saturday, 2 March

1:30 PM Silentopia – Miten metsä vastaa?
Turku City Theatre, Small Stage
Tickets 18–39 € at Lippu.fi

On the opening weekend of the Turku Jazz Festival, Tanssiteatteri Sivuun Ensemble invites the public to a ritualistic nature chapel to experience emotions related to the environmental crisis. Musicians, dancers and scientists transport the viewer from the pain and fear of our era to hope and trust. Award-winning choreographer Ninni Perko’s frantic, sensitive, sacred rite of passage visualizes new possibilities and worlds, building bridges to the future.

The music of Silentopia was composed together by Jarmo Saari, Anni Elif and Pauli Lyytinen. The ensemble’s genre distribution runs from chamber music through free jazz to electroacoustic. Paavo Malmberg, the sound designer of the piece, is the band’s fourth member.

The duration of the show is approx. 2 hours, including an intermission.

Sunday, 3 March

5:00 PM Mur ja metsän ilta
Lastenkulttuurikeskus Seikkailupuisto, Timantti-teatteri (The Adventure Park theatre)
Free entrance. Book your spot in advance: turku.fi/seikkailupuisto/esitykset

At Turku Jazz Festival’s concert for the whole family, we’ll join Mur-karhu to meet other animals in the forest. The partly improvised and partly composed music of top duo Mikko Gunu Karjalainen and Timo Kämäräinen is combined with the ancient tradition of fairy tales. Nature-themed stories and images as well as the skillful animation makes one think about important questions.

Kaisa Happonen and Karri ”Paleface” Miettinen – narrators
Mikko Gunu Karjalainen – trumpet and piano
Timo Kämäräinen – guitar and vocals
Anne Vasko – pictures
Carlos da Cruz – animation

The show is in Finnish.

Monday, 4 March

7:00 PM Monday Jazz Happening: Peppe Jalava Band + Jam Session
Rica Bar (Kristiinankatu 5), free entry. Age limit 18.

After seven years, Peppe Jalava Band returns to the concert stage with its new repertoire, The return of the miraculous pumpkin, which is influenced by progressive rock, jazz and modern art music. Jalava, better known for orchestral and chamber music, has gathered trained professionals in the band, who also have soloist strength.

Jaakko Martikainen – tenor and soprano saxophone
Gustav Nyström – trombone
Ari Polojärvi – guitar and guitar synthesizer
Mikko Multamäki – bass
Pertti ”Peppe” Jalava – drums and keyboards

After the concert, the evening at Rica Bar continues with a jam session.

Tuesday, 5 March

5 PM Ville Vannemaa’s album listening session
Jazz Office (Forum Kortteli, Linnankatu 11), free entry.

Turku Jazz Festival’s artist of the year brings his favorite records to the Jazz Office to listen to. What can be found in Ville Vannemaa’s record shelf? Whose compositions have impressed the saxophonist-arranger-composer-conductor, and what kind of stories are associated with the records? Come and enjoy a hot cup and a dose of jazz music history!

Wednesday, 6 March

7 PM Selma Savolainen Horror Vacui
Sibelius museum (Piispankatu 17), tickets 15–22 € at Tiketti.

Selma Savolainen, known for her unprejudiced music making and impressive use of voice, will present her band Horror Vacui on the Wednesday evening of the Turku Jazz Festival. Selma Savolainen has been praised as a singer who has raised Finnish vocal jazz to a new level. In addition to modern jazz, her English-language songs include influences from an alternative singer-songwriter style. The artist has been awarded with Pori Jazz’s Rising Talent recognition and uses her voice as an equal instrument among others. In Savolainen’s compositions, each player and instrument has its own place and star moment.

Selma Savolainen – song
Toomas Keski-Säntti – piano
Eero Tikkanen – double bass
Okko Saastamoinen – drums
Tomi Nikku – trumpet
Max Zenger – clarinets

9 PM Turku Conservatory workshop & Adele Sauros + Jam Session
Rica Bar (Kristiinankatu 5), free entry. Age limit 18.

Soulful saxophonist-composer Adele Sauros opens the doors of jazz music to the students of the Turku Conservatory during the festival week. On Wednesday evening, you can enjoy the fruits of Adele’s and the students’ work at a free concert at Rica Bar.

Jazz continues late into the evening with relaxed jams, where the festival’s performers, music students and the audience meet in whirlwinds of improvisation.

Thursday, 7 March

7 PM Punomo
Utopia club, tickets 20–29 € from Tiketti (both of the evening’s concerts with the same ticket). Age limit 18.

Turku’s own soul group Punomo is a burst of positive energy in the form of music. In the group’s unique vintage soul sound, the aesthetics that respect the traditions of African-American soul music naturally interweave with Finnish lyrics. Punomo’s strong music underlines the ancient truth about how timeless soul music is. Punomo is strongly inspired by the rhythm music of the 1960s and 70s and today’s soul-revival movement.

Johanna Rauma – vocals
Ilkka Arola – trumpet
Aku Painilainen – tenor saxophone
Ilmari Aitoaho – keyboards
Lauri Laine – guitar
Ami Kajan – bass
Victor Regalado – Percussion
Lauri Levanto – drums

8.30 PM Lassy – Eskola: Nordic Stew (FI/US)
Utopia club (Humalistonkatu 8aa courtyard), tickets 20–29 € from Tiketti (both of the evening’s concerts with the same ticket). Age limit 18.

Saxophonist Timo Lassy and trumpeter Jukka Eskola, who are among the most prominent musicians of their generation, will bring their new international band to the Turku Jazz Festival as part of a record release tour. In 2022, the friends were able to make their long-term dream true and traveled to New Orleans to record an album of their own music with top local musicians. Nordic Stew was born, a mix of Lassy’s and Eskola’s musical experiences combined with a great love for the birthplace of jazz.

Timo Lassy – tenor saxophone
Jukka Eskola – trumpet
David Torkanowsky – piano
Roland Guerin – bass
Jason Marsalis – drums
Miika Jämsä – tuba

Friday, 8 March

6.45 PM Award Ceremony

7 PM Turku Jazz Orchestra & Ville Vannemaa – Turku Jazz Festival’s artist of the year celebration concert
LOGOMO, Teatro (Junakatu 9). Tickets are sold in advance at Lippu.fi, more info below.

The musical multi-talent Ville Vannemaa has been piloting the Turku Jazz Orchestra since 2022. Now the conductor-arranger-composer-saxophonist, who has been selected as Turku Jazz Festival’s artist of the year 2024, gets to tailor music from a Turku perspective specifically for the orchestra’s players in his celebration concert. In Logomo, Vannemaa’s new four-part Turku Suite will be heard, composed especially for the Turku Jazz Orchestra, taking into account the orchestra’s different playing personalities. In addition, the concert will feature Vannemaa’s older big band material as well as some of his carefully selected favorites from other composers.

Ville Vannemaa – conductor, compositions
Turku Jazz Orchestra

8.45 PM Kenny Garrett and Sounds From The Ancestors (US)
LOGOMO, Teatro (Junakatu 9). Tickets are sold in advance at Lippu.fi, more info below.

Top saxophonist Kenny Garrett is a versatile musician whose remarkable career and philosophical attitude have influenced many jazz musicians for several decades. He is known for his cooperation with e.g. Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard and many other top names in jazz.

Kenny Garrett – alto and tenor sax
Keith Brown – piano
Melvis Santa – vocals and keyboards
Corcoran Holt – double bass
Rudy Bird – Percussion
Ronald Bruner – drums

LOGOMO TICKETS:

• Friday 42–48 €, incl. both evening’s concerts
• Two-day ticket (Fri & Sat) 69–78 €
• Friday ticket + ”Jazzkot” after club at Bar Fredrik, incl. a bus transport (10:30 PM from Logomo) 57–63 €. Age limit 18.
• Two-day ticket + ”Jazzkot” after club at Bar Fredrik, incl. a bus transport (10:30 PM from Logomo) 99–108 €. Age limit 18.

11 PM ”Jazzkot” after club: Gunu plays Hargrove + Jam Session
Bar Fredrik (Linnankatu 18), tickets 15 € at Lippu.fi. Age limit 18.
Logomo concerts + Jazzkot 57–63 € (incl. bus transport from Logomo at 10:30 PM)

Roy Hargrove was a trumpet player who, in addition to his soulful and versatile playing and compositions, succeeded by working smoothly in different genres: jazz, hip-hop and soul live in harmony in his music. Trumpeter, and Turku Jazz Festival’s Artist of the Year 2023, Mikko ”Gunu” Karjalainen honors Hargrove’s legacy by performing his music together with his wonderful jazz quintet. Karjalainen’s lyrical interpretations of Hargrove’s extensive production together with top musicians will give this music a new life at the festival Friday after club.

Mikko Gunu Karjalainen – trumpet and flugelhorn
Ville Vannemaa – saxophone and flute
Tuomo Uusitalo – piano
Filemon Von Numers – bass
Jaska Lukkarinen – drums

After the concert, the party continues into the night with a hot jam session!

Saturday, 9 March

2 PM Jazz & Wine Tasting with Max Zenger & Héctor Lepe
Saaristobaari (Aurakatu 14), 69 € incl. 5 wines matched to the musical performance and salty snacks. Table reservations: pupusetoy@gmail.com. Age limit 18.

How does a glass of jazz taste? What does good quality wine sound like? Charismatic woodwind specialist Max Zenger and Héctor Lepe, one of the most interesting guitarists of the moment, have prepared their own tasting menu of jazz and bossa nova songs for the Saturday of the festival, the moods and themes of which are related to the flora and fauna of different continents. The concert is complemented by 5 wines selected by The Tasting Room’s sommelier and savory snacks adapted to the mood of the compositions. During the experiential afternoon, stories about music and wine will also be heard.

7 PM Verneri Pohjola Monkey Mind (FI/UK/DK)
LOGOMO, Teatro (Junakatu 9). Tickets are sold in advance at Lippu.fi, more info below.

Trumpeter-composer Verneri Pohjola released his long-awaited Monkey Mind album in November 2023. The compositions of the album, interpreted by a real international dream group, will be heard on the Saturday evening of the Turku Jazz Festival. Pohjola, who has been awarded multiple times, has created a unique playing style over the past twenty years, which you can recognize at first listen. His playing radiates warmth, calmness and strong and expressive improvisation. Helsingin Sanomat has characterized Pohjola as Finland’s most human-voiced and emotionally intelligent trumpeter.

Verneri Pohjola – trumpet and effects
Kit Downes – piano
Jasper Høiby – double bass
Olavi Louhivuori – drums

8.45 PM Kinga Głyk (PL)
LOGOMO, Teatro (Junakatu 9). Tickets are sold in advance at Lippu.fi, more info below.

Kinga Głyk is a young and talented Polish-born bass player who has achieved international recognition for her exceptional talent and ability to combine different genres in her music. She started her career at the age of 12 in her family’s own band. The rising superstar of fusion jazz will release her fifth solo album Real Life in January 2024, the material of which will also be heard at the Turku Jazz Festival concert.

Kinga Głyk – bass
Hailey Niswanger – EWI, saxophone
Jan Uvira – keyboards
Arek Grygo – keyboards
Nicolas Viccaro – drums

LOGOMO TICKETS:

• One-day ticket 42–48 €, incl. both evening’s concerts
• Two-day ticket (Fri & Sat) 69–78 €
• Friday ticket + ”Jazzkot” after club at Bar Fredrik, incl. a bus transport (10:30 PM from Logomo) 57–63 €. Age limit 18.
• Two-day ticket + ”Jazzkot” after club at Bar Fredrik, incl. a bus transport (10:30 PM from Logomo) 99–108 €. Age limit 18.

11 PM ”Jazzkot” after club:  Ville Vannemaa Incorporated plays CTI + Jam Session
Bar Fredrik (Linnankatu 18), tickets 15 € at Lippu.fi. Age limit 18.
Logomo concerts + Jazzkot 57–63 € (incl. bus transport from Logomo at 10:30 PM)

Turku Jazz’s artist of the year 2024 Ville Vannemaa will introduce the club crowd to the world of soulful groove and soft sounds of the 1970s on festival’s Saturday night. The program features gems from the catalog of the legendary CTI record company (Creed Taylor Incorporated). In the hands of master players, both a cool, stylish feeling and a fiery playing merge together!

Ville Vannemaa – baritone saxophone and flute
Mikko Gunu Karjalainen – trumpet and flugelhorn
Tuomo Uusitalo – piano
Filemon Von Numers – bass
Jaska Lukkarinen – drums

After the concert, the party continues into the night with a hot jam session!

 

Sunday, 10 March

Jazz brunch: Olli Soikkeli Trio feat. Marian Petrescu
Aboa Vetus Ars Nova, Café Pegasus (Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6)
39 €, incl. the concert, brunch (two table settings) and a glass of sparkling wine. Table reservations: pegasus@kahvila-otava.fi / tel. +358 44 239 0454.

Table settings at 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM
The music starts at 11:45 AM and 2:15 PM

Turku Jazz Festival ends with Sunday’s delicious jazz brunch in the company of a top trio! Olli Soikkeli has become one of the world’s most respected Gypsy jazz guitarists. Now he performs at the closing concert of the Turku Jazz Festival together with Grammy-awarded pianist Marian Petrescu and bassist Joonas Tuuri.

The brunch buffet table includes cold and warm food options as well as drinks and delicacies. A selection of gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options is also available. A glass of sparkling wine is set for the tables, a non-alcoholic option is also available.

 

FESTIVAL INFO

Turku Jazz Festival is organized 1–10 March 2024 at concert venues and restaurants around Turku city center.

ARRIVAL IN LOGOMO
The evening concerts in Logomo are held at Teatro hall. Entrance is on the railway side of the building. More information about arriving in Logomo here.

By car
Logomo has parking areas on the northern and eastern sides of the building. Try to choose your parking area based on your final destination. There may be parking coordinators assisting during events. You can drive to Logomo from Köydenpunojankatu or Vaunukatu. Please note that parking is limited in the area. P7 parking area has charging stations for electric cars. We recommend using public transport, bikes or arriving by foot. Those arriving by car are advised to arrive early to secure a parking spot. Parking at the Logomo car park costs €1,5/hour.

Parking is also available in the Turku city center area or in the P-Louhi and Q-Park parking garages. The garages are within walking distance from Logomo, but you can also opt to take a buse to Logomo.

Disabled parking is free in the Logomo car park, providing you have the permit visible on the dashboard. Disabled parking spaces are near the LOGI Hall entrance and close to Logomo Kitchen.

Local bus 
Logomo is easily reachable from Turku city center by using local buses. You’ll reach Logomo with local bus lines 20 and 61 (Köydenpunojankatu). More info from Föli`s website.

By bike
Bicycle parking areas are located on both sides of the railway track close to Logomo. Bicycle parking is free of charge.

Taxi
Logomo has a taxi stand that is next to the building. A taxi can be ordered from the number 02 100 41.

Long distance bus
Turku bus station is located approx. a 12-minute walk away from Logomo. Use the pedestrian bridge crossing the railroads for easy access to the venue.

Train
Turku main railway station is located a 10-minute walk away from Logomo. Use the pedestrian bridge crossing the railroads for easy access to the venue.

Note: due to track work, the railway line is shut off between Turku and Kupittaa, and trains to Helsinki arrive and depart from the Kupittaa station instead of Turku. More info here. Traffic between Turku and Tampere is running normally.

Accessibility
The venue at Logomo is fully accessible with a wheelchair. The disabled person’s ticket is normal priced, but the assistant’s ticket is free except for the service fee (€1,50). An assistant ticket can be purchased here.

Logomo provides a portable loop system for those who are hard of hearing. The device can be borrowed from the cloakroom. The system consists of portable receivers, which fit in a pocket, and a loop that is set around the user’s neck. The loop system works the same way as a built-in hearing aid and, therefore, your personal hearing aid must be switched to the ´T´ position (telecoil) when using the loop.

All toilet facilities in Logomo are equipped with separate accessible toilets. You can find the toilets by following WC signs. The disabled parking spots are located near the LOGI Hall entrance and at one end of Logomo Kitchen.