WELCOME TO APRIL JAZZ 2010!
The biggest jazz festival of Finland’s capital city area is arranged in Espoo from April 28th to May 2nd for the 24rd time.
The warm and cozy Festival tent will traditionally be located next to the Espoo Cultural Centre. Venue’s restaurant services will be provided by the TV chef Jyrki Sukula’s catering company “Kaikilla Mausteilla” (With all spices).
The April Jazz tent’s program will be opened on Wednesday 28.4, by a soul-funk band The Brand New Heavies and the Japanese Jazztronic. On Thursday Zap Mama will mesmerize the audience with soulful afro-jazz. First of May will be paraded with the hottest jams when Dwayne Dopsie & the Hellraisers turns the heat on with the Swedish latin-combo Calle Real. The May Day’s Jazzy brunch entertains the whole family with high quality live artists from Finland and abroad. The same evening the famous pianist George Duke, who is also known from the legendary Frank Zappa’s band, will climb on the stage.
This year April Jazz salutes the all stars of jazz. One of the most awaited artists of the festival is 85-year- old drummer legend Roy Haynes, not to mention the guitar hero of jazz, Stanley Jordan, from New York.
Joni Mitchell Sinphonically will be performed by Tapiola Sinfonietta and Espoo Big Band together at Tapiola Hall. The performance is conducted and arranged by Petri Juutilainen and featured by singers Emma Salokoski, Johanna Iivanainen and saxophonist Manuel Dunkel.
Jukka Perko’s Akseli in Africa is an audio-visual art performance executed in cooperation with video artist Jenni Valorinta and it’s based on painter Akseli Gallen- Kallela’s works. Other Finnish front row acts are Anna-Mari Kähärän Orkesteri and ingenious Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu.
Lina Nyberg is one of the most prestigious jazz singers in Sweden and will delight the audience with her charismatic voice at Sello Hall in Leppävaara, Espoo.
Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden is the spot for the festival’s international jamming after party, where the restaurant Sevilla will serve Spanish late-night delicacies.
April Jazz is known from its warm atmosphere and for opening the festival season. I want to thank the city of Espoo, associates and loyal guests for the support which made April Jazz festival possible again.
WELCOME TO ENJOY!
Mape Lappalainen
Festival Director