On All Saints’ Day weekend a diverse set of music played once again as Tampere Jazz Happening filled the venues at Tullikamarin aukio with modern jazz for the 43rd time.
The featured country of the opening concert was Portugal. Performing at the Spotlight on Portugal event were Mané Fernades “Matriz Motriz”, Demian Cabaud “Árbol adentro” and Axes “Hexagon”, who filled the venue with an audience yearning for new music. Portuguese jazz can be heard one more time at the free-of-charge closing concert on Sunday evening, when audiences are introduced to the improvised jazz of Bode Wilson.
Over the course of four days Tampere saw the performances of 25 ensembles all together, including that of bassist Antti Lötjönen, who received the Finnish Jazz Federation’s Yrjö Award on Friday. The highlight on Friday was the joint performance of two eccentric musicians, saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen – only the second of its kind. The daytime concert on Saturday saw the world debut performance of the Japanese-German AVA Trio. Performing in Finland for the first time and opening the evening concert on Saturday was the American aja monet, who captivated the audience with her jazz poetry. The opening performer on Sunday, the British Zoe Rahman Octet, was likewise a first-time performer in Finland. The culmination of the concerts at Pakkahuone was the highly anticipated Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, who were last seen in Tampere 42 years ago at the very first Tampere Jazz Happening.
New Finnish jazz filled the venue at Telakka on both nights. On Friday the programme consisted of three female-led ensembles when the stage was taken by Aurora Hentunen Quintet, Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease, and Kaisa’s Machine. On Saturday Markus Holkko Quartet, Future Food Factory, and Jaska Lukkarinen Trio served audiences their new music. Inviting audiences to the dancefloor at Klubi with their nighttime performances were Roni Kaspi Trio and Nubiyan Twist.
Held in conjunction with Tampere Jazz Happening was the Finnish Jazz Federation’s National Jazz Convention. At the statutory autumn meeting, Minnakaisa Kuivalainen, the executive director of Tampere Music Festivals – the organizer of Tampere Jazz Happening – was elected as a board member of the Finnish Jazz Federation for a two-year term 2025–2026.
The preliminary visitor count of the festival is 3580, which is 90 per cent of capacity. Tampere Jazz Happening is next held on 30.10.–2.11.2025. The complete renovation of Tullikamari is set to begin in early 2025, so the venue of the next festival will be announced separately.
Photo (Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble): Maarit Kytöharju
