Kurt Rosenwinkel, one of the world’s most respected jazz guitarists, shines on Savoy JAZZFest’s Friday by performing as a soloist of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and with his own quartet.

Kurt Rosenwinkel & UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra: Caipi

The first part of this two-part concert consists of Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Caipi album, of which Rosenwinkel has created big band versions for the Danish Radio Big Band. Now, Rosenwinkel’s Brazilian-themed songs will be performed for the first time with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, re-arranged just for the Savoy JAZZFest. Conductor Ed Partyka.

Rosenwinkel’s Caipi project was the result of ten years of work. Caipi’s compositions are a fascinating combination of new and old, familiar and unknown. At the Savoy JAZZFest concert, Rosenwinkel’s melodic compositions, sense of harmony and subtle chromaticism meet the deep big band sound of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

Rosenwinkel – Blake – Mäensivu – Peri

Two forerunners of jazz meet two up-and-rising musicians of the younger generation at Savoy JAZZFest, when Kurt Rosenwinkel, Seamus Blake, Kaisa Mäensivu and Joe Peri perform together for the first time in Helsinki.

American guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel has been defining the sound of jazz guitar for decades. Originally from Canada, Seamus Blake has established himself as a recognizable and unique voice of modern jazz saxophone in New York. They are accompanied by Manhattan School of Music graduates, double bassist and the artistic director of Savoy JAZZFest Kaisa Mäensivu and drummer Joe Peri, to whom Rosenwinkel and Blake have influenced in a significant way both as players and composers.

The program features original compositions by the members of the band as well as jazz standards adapted for this concert.