TJH 2012 on air
Published: 12.12.2012
The first live recording from Tampere Jazz Happening 2012 on Yle Radio 1: Jazzradio Live! Gerry Hemingway Quintet (available until 13 January 2013).
Full Houses at Festival of the Year
Published: 05.11.2012
Friends of jazz found their way to Tampere Jazz Happening on the first weekend of November. Majority of the concerts were sold out.
The 31st Happening featured 26 bands, more than 120 musicians, and 17 different nationalities. The programme presented a broad range of jazz and numerous international stars took the stage.
The Gerry Hemingway Quintet opened the Old Customs House Hall venue on Friday evening. The Vijay Iyer Trio fulfilled the audience’s expectations brilliantly, and Ibrahim Maalouf enchanted the audience with his Lebanese trumpet.
Saturday evening brought with it one acclaimed line-up after another. Percussionist Adam Rudolph was full of surprises with his Moving Pictures Octet, and The Jazz Passengers’ performance reflected their long history of playing together. The evening was concluded loudly and freely by Peter Brötzmann’s Chicago Tentet.
The Finnish artists proved to be just as exciting as their international fellows: both the Friday and Saturday concerts at Telakka were sold out.
According to early estimates, Tampere Jazz Happening attracted approximately 11,000 visits, and about 97 % of the available seats were taken.
In addition to dozens of musicians, 23 international journalists and promoters joined the festival to celebrate its recognition as Festival of the Year by Finland Festivals.
The event is organized by Tampere Music Festivals, part of the Cultural Affairs department of the City of Tampere. The Executive Producer of the festival is Minnakaisa Kuivalainen, and the Artistic Director is Juhamatti Kauppinen. The next Happening will be held 31 October – 3 November, 2013.
Chicago Tentet performing at the Old Customs House Hall. Photography by Maarit Kytöharju.
Old Customs House Hall Sunday Concert Sold Out
Published: 04.11.2012
The wonderful weekend at Tampere Jazz Happening also ends well: the Sunday concert at the Old Customs House Hall is sold out. On the last day of the festival, the main venue hosts such acts as Mark Solborg Trio feat. Herb Robertson, Lotte Anker & Mikko Innanen, Han Bennink & Aki Takase, and John Scofield Trio feat. Steve Swallow & Bill Stewart.
The party continues at Klubi from 8.00 pm on. Happening closes with a concert featuring the legendary Finnish dream pop group XL, and the improvisational Go: Organic Orchestra, led by the master percussionist Adam Rudolph. The final concert is free of charge.
Photography: Maarit Kytöharju.
Four concerts sold out at Happening
Published: 03.11.2012
The Tampere Jazz Happening concerts on Friday 2 November were great successes. The Old Customs House Hall and Telakka were completely sold out, and the late night show at Klubi was packed, as well.
The festivities continue on Saturday 3 November as the first performers take the stage at the Old Customs House Hall at 2.00 pm. The daytime concert features the art pop-jazz quartet Schneeweiss und Rosenrot, avant garde guitarist Hasse Poulsen with his group the Progressive Patriots, and the groovy Sha’s Feckel.
Starting at 8.00 pm, the veterans of jazz continue to keep the audience entertained. Adam Rudolph’s Moving Pictures Octet is praised in the field of world jazz. The Jazz Passengers draws their influence from the legacy of hard bop, mixing in also elements from contemporary American styles. The show is concluded by the legend of free jazz, saxophonist Peter Brötzmann with his trusted Chicago Tentet.
The Telakka concert, sold out already in advance, showcases the fresh Finnish bands Mopo, Rakka, and Fredator.
Purchase your tickets beforehand
The festiva box office opens at the Old Customs House Hall at 1.00 pm. We recommend purchasing your tickets and Saturday Passes as early as possible. There are even a few tickets left for the Sunday concert, featuring Mark Solborg Trio and guests, Han Bennink & Aki Takase, and John Scofield Trio feat. Steve Swallow & Bill Stewart.
Gerry Hemingway Quintet mesmerized the audience on Friday. Photography by Maarit Kytöharju.
Explore the Selection of the City Library
Published: 02.11.2012
On Friday 2 Nov, Tampere City Library will have their own desk at the Old Customs House Hall. From the desk, you’ll be able to loan books, records, and magazines with your library card. The library desk will be open from 7.00 pm till midnight. Welcome!
Saturday Concert at Telakka Sold Out
Published: 02.11.2012
The Saturday evening show at Telakka, featuring the Finnish Mopo, Rakka, and Fredator, is sold out. Also, the concerts at the Old Customs House Hall on Friday and Sunday are proving to be great successes. If you wish to ensure your access to shows by e.g. the John Scofield Trio and the Vijay Iyer Trio, we highly recommend purchasing a ticket beforehand. There are still a few festival passes available as well.
The festival box office, located at Tullikamarin aukio 2, 2nd floor, is at your service on Friday 2 Nov until 4.00 pm. After that, the ticket booth will be moved to the Old Customs House Hall, where it opens again at 7.00 pm.
Fredator. Photography by Saara Salmi.
Festival of the Year Begins
Published: 01.11.2012
The first performances of Tampere Jazz Happening are on Thursday 1 November. The programme takes a head start when Rakka plays an acoustic set in the Main Library of Tampere at noon. Their actual showtime in Happening is at Telakka venue on Saturday 3 November at 10.30 pm.
The festival begins at Klubi on Thursday evening at 8.00 pm. The opening concert presents three acts selected by the 12 Points Festival for their European showcase tour. French free jazz quartet Actuum opens the evening followed by critics’ favourite from the UK, WorldService Project, and is concluded by young Finnish talents Big Blue. The Thursday event is free of charge.
Actuum. Photography by Rémi Angeli.
Tickets sales is going well
Tickets are being sold at the same pace as in previous years. Headlined by the John Scofield Trio, the Sunday concert is proving to be more successful than before. The master improviser returns to Tampere after 22 years.
The Old Customs House Hall hosts several international stars throughout the weekend. The Friday concert features the acclaimed Vijay Iyer Trio; the legendary saxophonist Peter Brötzmann takes the stage on Saturday.
Gypsy music pioneers Boban & Marko Marković Orchestra from Serbia and afrobeat veteran Ebo Taylor from Ghana storm the Klubi stage on Friday and Saturday nights respectively.
Finnish acts are also given their chances in the spotlight: the Saturday concert at Telakka, featuring Mopo, Rakka, and Fredator, will probably be sold out in advance.
Happening attracts international guests
In addition to the international roster of artists, the festival welcomes 23 international journalists and jazz professionals. Music Finland invites a selection of guests to the festival as part of their music export project aimed at the United Kingdom. Other guests arrive from Russia, Japan, and North America.
The title of Festival of the Year, awarded by Finland Festivals, is also proving to be of interest. The title was given to Happening as an acknowledgement of its important role in enriching the Finnish jazz scene. Artistic Director Juhamatti Kauppinen is in charge of the event’s programming.
Enquiries:
Emmi Pääkkönen, PR Coordinator
p. +358 (0)40 800 4361
emmi.paakkonen(@)tampere(.)fi
www.tamperemusicfestivals.fi/jazz
Legend of free jazz on silver screen
Published: 25.10.2012
The most enthusiastic start their festival already on Friday, 26 October when Soldier of the Road – A Portrait of Peter Brötzmann (Cinésolo 2011) will be screened at Arthouse Cinema Niagara. The documentary follows the exceptional career of free jazz legend Peter Brötzmann.
Brötzmann’s creativity has always presented itself in the most extreme forms. Please read more from the article published on 20 September.
Bernard Josse: Soldier of the Road – A Portrait of Peter Brötzmann
Fri 26 Oct at 18:45, dur. 93 min. – Arthouse Cinema Niagara (Kehräsaari, Building B) – Tickets 6 €
Sunday Concert at Old Customs House Hall Most Requested
Published: 19.10.2012
John Scofield visited Tampere also on 1990. Photography by Maarit Kytöharju
This year, the most wanted concert at Happening seems to be the Sunday afternoon at Old Customs House Hall. As expected, John Scofield with Steve Swallow and Bill Stewart are the crowd-pullers. The concert also features performances by Mark Solborg Trio feat. Herb Robertson, Lotte Anker & Mikko Innanen, and Han Bennink & Aki Takase.
Despite the numerous international guests, Finnish acts are also an attraction. The Saturday evening concert at Telakka, featuring Mopo, Rakka, and Fredator, will most likely be sold out already before the festival officially starts.
The concert at Old Customs House Hall on Friday, featuring the Gerry Hemingway Quintet, the Vijay Iyer Trio, and Ibrahim Maalouf: “Diagnostic”, has also caught the festival audience’s attention.
Get in the festival mood – purchase a pass!
The most convenient way to experience all that Happening has to offer is to get the Festival Pass, which will grant you access to every concert at the festival. We also offer 1-day-passes for Friday and Saturday. The Klubi Pass suits those who wish to dance their nights away to the rhythms of Boban and Marko Markovic Orchestra and Ebo Taylor & The Afrobeat Academy.
Festival Pass 135 / 95 €
Friday Pass 55 / 40 €
Saturday Pass 75 / 50 €
Klubi Pass 35 / 25 €
Please see the Tickets section for more info.
Minor Changes for Sunday
Published: 15.10.2012
The performance of Mark Solborg Trio feat. Herb Robertson, Lotte Anker & Mikko Innanen has been rescheduled – the new starting time is at 14.00 (2.00 pm) on Sunday, 4 Nov. Solborg’s orchestra will switch places with Han Bennink and Aki Takase, who will start their show at 16.15 (4.15 pm). Showtime for John Scofield Trio will, however, remain the same and thus, they will start at 18.00 (6.00 pm).
New schedule for Sunday, 4 Nov is as follows:
14.00 Mark Solborg Trio feat. Herb Robertson, Lotte Anker & Mikko Innanen
16.15 Han Bennink & Aki Takase
18.00 John Scofield Trio feat. Steve Swallow & Bill Stewart
Mark Solborg. Photography by Palle Steen Christensen.