Updated 26.3.2021

This concert Great Voices #2: Ola Onabulé feat. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra which has already been postponed twice, is now rescheduled to spring season 2022.

The new concert day is Wednesday 23 March, 2022 at 7 pm, at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki.

Tickets purchased for the previous concert dates (23.4.2020, 12.12.2020, 22.4.2021) will be valid as such for the new date.

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UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra presents a new concert series dedicated to stellar vocalists! The second show sees UMO Helsinki joined by British-Nigerian soul singer and songwriter Ola Onabulé. Without reserve, Onabulé can be called a man with a voice and a message.

This concert will see Onabulé and UMO Helsinki play the guest soloist’s original soul material, with an emphasis on the 2019 album Point Less, in brand new big band renditions. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra will be led by the recently appointed chief conductor and artistic director, Ed Partyka.

Tickets from Lippu.fi including service fee:
Normal price 47 €
Retirees 37 €
Students, kids, servicemen 15 €
Premium 67 €
Groups 37 €/person

Onabulé is a skilful storyteller who seems to breath soul into any song. With his astonishing three and half-octave vocal range he will both move you and make you move even if you were sitting in the furthest corner of the concert hall. Despite nodding to the 60s and the 70s, Onabulé’s music is unmistakably modern soul, and on stage he takes it to new heights with his colourful stage presence, effortless expression and wide range of stylistic devices. Thematically, Onabulé tends to focus on problems of today, including xenophobia and social injustice, but there are other recurring themes as well, such as his Nigerian background and certain ageless philosophical questions. Onabulé’s career spans already over 20 years. Naturally, he has performed at innumerable important jazz arenas and festivals and featured several notable orchestras, including the German WDR Big Band and the Danish Radio Big Band. He also runs his own record label, Rugger Ram Records, on which he has released seven out of his nine solo efforts. www.ola-onabule.co.uk

“You may want to dance, or you may want to march. But Onabulé’s latest will make it hard for folks to stay in their seats. Strongly recommended.” – Soul Tracks

“Onabulé is the whole package, a powerful expressive singer and striking songwriter with incisive things to say about contemporary society.” – All About Jazz Magazine

“He has stories to tell with a voice that does so honestly, melodically, soulfully, and without pity but filled with empathy. There’s power in rhythms and the beats.” – Blues & Beats & Bop

“A master of his instrument, a superb storyteller, a gracious human-being.” – Robert Papaleoni, WCNY TV, USA