Salesvuo Syncopation | Perillä | Eero Koivistoinen Quartet – 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.

Tuesday 1 August 2023

13.00 | Salesvuo Syncopation
The new Finnish jazz ensemble Salesvuo Syncopation relies on the acoustic jazz tradition’s power of expression, combined with an infectious groove! Presenting Tomi Salesvuo’s original compositions and fresh new arrangements of Finnish music classics, the ensemble is made up of a group of friends who have known each other professionally for many years through various shared projects.

The ensemble’s two EPs titled Loft Sessions Vols. 1 and 2 (Eclipse Music) have offered audiences a teaser of the sounds and grooves of the group’s upcoming full-length debut album. Loft Sessions Vol.2, released last November, was built around Tomi Salesvuo’s compositions, arranged by the trio. The band is published by the Tampere-based Eclipse Music, together with Musiikkisato Music Ltd., and the trio’s debut album Complete Loft Sessions will be released on 26 May.

Pope Puolitaival – sax
Mikko Helevä – Hammond organ
Tomi Salesvuo – drums

16.00 | Perillä
A Grammy Award recipient, drummer Joe Peri has been a frequent feature in the Finnish jazz scene over the past few years, bringing New York vibes through his performances alongside his bassist wife Kaisa Mäensivu. Now Peri fronts a new ensemble of Finnish top musicians, combining exciting grooves and intertwining melodies in their music.

Joe Peri and Kaisa Mäensivu are esteemed new-generation musicians living and working in New York City, the jazz capital of the world. Drumming in major projects such as the collaborative album of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, Peri teamed up a couple of years ago with Finnish musicians to form a new ensemble whose debut album was released in February 2023.

Max Zenger – sax
Joonatan Rautio – sax
Jukkis Uotila – piano
Kaisa Mäensivu – bass
Joe Peri – drums

17.30 | Eero Koivistoinen Quartet
A decade after its inception in 2012, the Eero Koivistoinen Quartet is a well-oiled machine with polished and seamless ensemble playing. Its members are known for playing in various acclaimed groups, and together these musicians have created a shared groove that is airy, tight and snappy. Jori Huhtala and Jussi Lehtonen form the rhythm section and lead the way with their fantastic groove, letting pianist Alexi Tuomarila shine. Above everything soars the masterful roar of maestro Eero Koivistoinen’s saxophone, delivered by the most legendary Finnish jazz musician alive. The quartet has released three albums: Hati Hati (2012), Illusion (2017) and Diversity (2022).

Eero Koivistoinen – sax
Alexi Tuomarila – piano
Jori Huhtala – bass
Jussi Lehtonen – drums