The festival features four Portuguese ensembles in all, three of which will be seen already on the first day at the Spotlight on Portugal event, which is free of charge. The musically diverse opening night will feature electric guitar, saxophone, and human voice.
The main concerts of Tampere Jazz Happening at Pakkahuone will showcase a wide range of jazz virtuosity from both Europe and the USA. Friday opens with the traditional presentation of the Yrjö Award, the most prestigious award given to jazz musicians in Finland. Austrian David Helbock’s Random/Control will perform songs composed to poems by William Blake and Emily Dickinson, among others. The night will also see a joint performance from saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen, playing together in Finland for the first time. Finally, the evening culminates in a performance by the longtime American saxophonist David Murray and his new quartet.
The daytime event on Saturday begins with the music of Duke Ellington as interpreted by the new British-Norwegian trio Daydream, led by pianist Pat Thomas. Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, founded by Kari Ikonen and Manuel Hermia, is known for its unusual sound, its desire to take a stance, and its playful humor. Japanese jazz pianist Aki Takase and her AVA Trio close the day with a world premiere performance.
Opening the evening performances is aja monet, one of the newest links in a long chain of American jazz poets. Her topical texts center around Black resistance, love, and the inexhaustible search for joy. Also performing in Finland for the first time is Tonbruket, led by Swedish bassist Dan Berglund. The night closes with New Orleans jazz legend Donald Harrison, who brings his relatively recently established quartet to Tampere in a performance that features both bebop classics and “nouveau swing”.
The main concert of the festival’s final day features both Finnish first appearances and veteran Happening performers. British pianist Zoe Rahman’s first performance in Finland has been long time coming, but now she is arriving in Tampere with her octet. Norwegian drummer Gard Nilssen brings his longest-running, most productive ensemble Bushman’s Revenge to Happening. And finally, the day closes with Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, which performed at the very first Tampere Jazz Happening in 1982, but has not been seen at the festival since.
Tampere Jazz Happening also brings six Finnish ensembles to Telakka over two nights. On Friday evening the stage is taken by Aurora Hentunen Quintet, Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease, and Kaisa’s Machine, led by bassist Kaisa Mäensivu. Saturday, in turn, brings to the stage Markus Holkko Quartet, Future Food Factory led by Mikko Hassinen, and Jaska Lukkarinen Trio.
Late nights of the festival’s weekend culminate at Klubi with performances by drumming sensation Roni Kaspi and her trio, as well as the seven-member Nubiyan Twist, which takes inspiration from jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin music, soul, reggae, and dance music.
Tampere Jazz Happening closes at Telakka on Sunday night with a free-of-charge performance by the Portuguese trio Bode Wilson.
