Tapiola - Espoo Cultural Centre: Photo Heikki Vahtola © Espoo Convention & Marketing
The 26th April Jazz festival, the largest jazz festival held in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, begins this evening at Tapiola in Espoo. Continuing the strong traditions of the festival’s founder, Mape Lappalainen (who sadly passed away last summer), the lineup features some of the most exciting talents currently performing, both from Finland and internationally. As in previous years, April Jazz will be hosted by the Espoo Big Band, who perform twice during the festival, with Patti Austin. Many of the other artists will be performing brand new material, and there are a number of album release concerts to be enjoyed.
There are 4 venues hosting performances in 2012, including one brand new venue, at least as far as April Jazz is concerned. The Jazztent, located at Kaupinkalliontie, has the busiest of timetables, with two concerts a night from Wednesday through to Sunday. These are:
Wed: Jukka Eskola Quintet w/Strings + Patti Austin & Espoo Big Band
Thu: EBB Sextet feat. Aili Ikonen + Patti Austin & Espoo Big Band
Fri: Jo Stance + Funky Style Brass
Sat: Afro-Cuban All Stars + Edmar Castaneda Quartet
Sun: Ebeli in Concert + Tuomas Wäinölä Band
As usual, the main venue of the festival is in the Espoo Cultural Centre. The main hall, Tapiolasali, has great acoustics, comfortable seating, and can accommodate 770 people. The concerts being held in Tapiolasali are:
Wed: Avishai Cohen
Thu: Jan Garbarek Group featuring Trilok Gurtu
Fri: Iiro Rantala
Sat: Värttinä
Also in the Espoo Cultural Centre is a smaller hall, Louhisali, which can accomodate 300 people for a more intimate experience. The audience has the choice of regular seating or more personal table seating where they can also enjoy a drink as they listen. The concerts being held in Louhisali are:
Wed: Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Samdhi
Thu: Verneri Pohjola Quartet feat. Jukka Perko
Fri: Ketola Rewired
Sat: Simcock-Garland-Sirkis: Lighthouse
The newest venue of April Jazz, Kino Tapiola, brings a breeze of the fifties to April Jazz. This old movie theatre’s facilities were renewed last year, but the the original atmosphere has been retained. The whole theatre, lounge included, will work as a bar where you can find drinks and small snacks while enjoying the show. After the concert you are able to continue your night in the lounge. For the opening night, a new film by Saara Cantell “Stars Above”, will be shown. However, the soundtrack version made for April Jazz, only the dialogue of the movie is recorded: the soundtrack music, composed by Sid Hille, will be played live! Before the film starts the band will warm up the audience. The concerts being held in Kino Tapiola are:
Wed: Leffa goes Live w/Cantell & Hille
Thu: Auteur Jazz
Fri: Elifantree + Klima Kalima
Getting to and from the concerts couldn’t be easier – or cheaper – for audience members travelling from Helsinki. April Jazz is providing free transport on the Jazz Bus. The Jazz Bus leaves from Helsinki at Lasipalatsi, Mannerheimintie 22-24, and the return bus from Tapiola to Helsinki leaves in front of the Jazztent at Kaupinkalliontie. The times of the bus are as follows:
From Helsinki:
Wednesday-Friday: 6.00 pm, 6.40 pm, 7.20 pm, 8.45 pm
Saturday: 6.00 pm, 6.40 pm, 8.45 pm
Return from Tapiola:
Wednesday: 9.30 pm, 10.30 pm, 11.30 pm
Thursday: 10.00 pm, 10.45 pm, 11.30 pm
Friday: 9.30 pm, 10.30 pm, 11.15 pm, 00.00 am
Saturday: 9.30 pm, 10.30 pm, 00.00 am
