Jukka Haavisto | Soul What? feat. Joonatan Rautio | Elena Mindru Finnection – Jazz-Espa

Jazz-Espa is a rare treat even on an international level: this number of free concerts by such high-level artists in the heart of a city can’t be found anywhere else!

The festival features 17 jazz acts, both experimental styles and traditional sounds.

Friday 4 August 2023

13.00 | Jukka Haavisto
Jukka Haavisto is a new-generation virtuoso bassist, a studio and live musician who plays and performs with his own band, as well as with many other artists and ensembles. He is known as a fretless bass specialist, jazz fusion and world music fusion composer, and as a skilled improviser. Haavisto’s line-up is completed by Johannes Granroth, the recent winner of the Jazzkukko Jazz Guitar Competition; Severi Sorjonen, one of the foremost jazz drummers of his generation; and young keyboard wizard Vili Itäpelto.

Jukka Haavisto – bass, Johannes Granroth – guitar, Severi Sorjonen – drums, Vili Itäpelto – keyboard

16.00 | Soul What? feat. Joonatan Rautio
Soul What? feat. Joonatan Rautio, led by bassist Eevalotta Matikainen, is an intriguing soul/jazz quintet whose intensive live energy keeps audiences captivated. The ensemble’s musicians are true heavy hitters, and the result is more than the sum of its parts. At their Jazz-Espa event, the group will launch their third album, serving up a tried-and-tested and balanced mix of instrumental tunes and songs performed in English.

Joonatan Rautio – sax, Eevalotta Matikainen – bass, Mikael Svarvar – vocals and piano, Martin Söderbacka – guitar, Jussi Lehtonen – drums

17.30 | Elena Mindru Finnection
Internationally acclaimed jazz singer Elena Mindru has enlivened the Finnish music scene for over a decade with her charismatic performance. She was awarded the Second Place and the Audience Prize at the Montreux Shure Voice Competition in Switzerland in 2012, by the legendary producer Quincy Jones. Since then, her career has been on the upswing. Originally from Romania, the singer resides now-a-days in Finland, performing all over the world, both with her own group and as a soloist of symphony orchestras and big bands.

The band's name, Elena Mindru Finnection, symbolizes the special connection between the instrumentalists and the vocal soloist on the multiculturality that unifies the band. The compositions heard during the concert are mostly by Elena Mindru and pianist Tuomas J. Turunen, not forgetting a few elegantly chosen loan pieces of their favourite musicians.

Elena Mîndru – vocals, compositions and lyrics, Sampo Hiukkanen – violin and saxophone, Tuomas J. Turunen – piano and compositions, Oskari Siirtola – bass, Anssi Tirkkonen – drums