Two jazz festivals to feed the jazz hungry audience in Finland this fall.

A new multifaceted jazz event, or “an installation”, We Jazz 2013 takes place in Helsinki on December 9 to 14.

The event’s line up includes a cast of both Finnish and international acts ranging stylistically across the field of jazz. Some of the concerts take a new approach in creating a unique context for the performance, and there will also be a jazz-themed gallery exhibition which is available for a total of two weeks.

”I would say it’s more of a jazz-installation than a traditional festival”, says Matti Nives, the Managing Director of We Jazz and the Artistic Director of We Jazz 2013. ”We imaged the best possible version of Helsinki as a jazz town, and tried to create a program which for the duration of a week includes interesting concerts each night in exciting locations in and around the Helsinki city centre.”

Acts featured in the event include Tomasz Stanko Quintet, Timo Lassy Band, Dalindèo, Jukka Perko, Greg Osby, Andrew Cyrille & Mikko Innanen, Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa, Oddarrang, Mopo, Black Motor & Verneri Pohjola, Klima Kalima and M.A. Numminen.

Here's a preview of what we can expect from the festival. This is episode 009 of "Live at We Jazz". Shot on location at an empty office space very near the We Jazz / Unifilm offices in Helsinki on Monday 2 September 2013. The clip features Jukka Eskola Orquesta Bossa.

We Jazz Festival, Helsinki, 9.–14.12.2013

Tampere Jazz Happening with international flavors

Tampere Jazz Happening’s line-up combines jazz musicians from five different continents: Australia, North and South America, Africa and Europe. The line-up includes 16 international and 8 local artists. International side of the program includes Manu Katché, Jack DeJohnette and Stefan Pasborg among others.  The Finnish programme of the Festival is also top-notch. Established top class bands like Verneri Pohjola Quartet and Dalindéo are accompanied by the brand new ensembles Jarmo Saari Republic, Kantonen Camping -septet and Tenors of Kalma, led by Jimi Tenor and Kalle Kalima.

Tampere Jazz Happening , Tampere 31.10.-3.11.2013.