The guitarist and composer Kalle Kalima has been living and working in Berlin for a long time, upholding the reputation of Finnish jazz in Central Europe. Now he returns to perform as soloist with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, bringing with him a new commissioned work in three movements for guitar and big band.

KBG Suite is inspired by the chilling atmosphere in the agent films of the cold war era. The forces of the dark have only stopped to gather their strength, and the old schemes continue in 2024 with new, digital weapons. The rhythmic texture and polyphonic soundscape of the work is combined in an interesting way with a Lalo Schiffrin-inspired big band sound, and the magnificent soloists of UMO spin their own threads in the web.

Kalima is a prolific composer for smaller ensembles, and he brings a new, fresh perspective from outside the big band circles. He combines influences especially of the 70s with the traditional big band sound.

The result is once again quintessential Kalima – party in the art, art in the party.

Ed Partyka conducts the concert.

This is a club concert, you can enjoy the music together with snacks and a drink. There are restaurant services in the hall, the serving area is restricted. The seats are unnumbered. No intermission.

Kalle Kalima (b. 1973) is an Emma award winning composer, whose own instrument is the guitar. During the last 15 years he has composed several commissioned works for UMO. Kalima has composed orchestral music for among others Opera Lyon, NDR Big Band och B’Rock Orchestra. Kalima’s own bands are among others K-18, Kuu!, Tenors of Kalma, whose first record was nominated for the Jazz Echo Award in Germany in 2016, and Klima Kalima, which won the Neuer Deutscher Jazzpreis Award in 2008. Kalima is the professor of jazz guitar at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland. www.kallekalima.com

Photo: Fanni Rea Müller