The duration of the concert is 2 hours, including an intermission
K18. The duration of the concert is 2 hours, including an intermission
Thad Jones 100 – UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra & Jukka Eskola
Conductor Antti Rissanen
Thu 26 October 2023 at 6 pm // Vuotalo, Helsinki
Fri 27 October 2023 at 7 pm // Nuijamies, Lappeenranta
The duration of the concert is 2 hours, including an intermission
K18. The duration of the concert is 2 hours, including an intermission
Thad Jones has been characterised as one of the best jazz trumpet soloists as well as one of the most important big band composers and arrangers of all times. It’s also said that he was also one of the world’s most prominent big band conductors. Even today, his compositions are key repertoire of big bands all over the world.
The year 2023 marks 100 years of the master composer’s birth. To celebrate the anniversary year, the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra honors this concert with trumpeter Jukka Eskola as soloist and Antti Rissanen as conductor. The concerts feature Jones’ master compositions from the repertoire of the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra from 1960’s and 1970’s.
Thad Jones and Mel Lewis visited UMO in December 1977. In addition to the concert at the Hesperia nightclub, an album called Thad Jones, Mel Lewis & UMO was recorded on the same visit. The album was later nominated for a Grammy in the Best Jazz Instrumental Performance – Big Band category in 1979. After the visit, UMO’s then-trumpeter Simo Salminen was attached to the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra.
The duration of the concert is 2 hours, including an intermission.
Jukka Eskola (b. 1978) has been delighting jazz people with his music for 25 years. In addition to his own bands Jukka Eskola Soul Trio, Jukka Eskola Quintet and Jukka Eskola Orquestra Bossa, the busy trumpeter has played in the groups Five Corners Quintet and Ricky-Tick Big Band. Eskola’s resume includes, among other things, six solo albums, a couple of hundred recordings, Finnish Jazz Federation’s Yrjö prize, Pori Jazz Artist of the Year award, several Emma nominations, theatre productions and many teaching posts. Eskola also plays in orchestras of various television programs. www.jukkaeskola.com
Antti Rissanen (b. 1975) is a prominent figure in Finnish big band music; composer-arranger, conductor, trombonist and pedagogue. He graduated from the Sibelius Academy with a master’s degree and a doctorate. In addition to UMO, Rissanen has conducted several famous symphony orchestras. He teaches at the Sibelius Academy and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and was the chairman of the Finnish Big Band Association for 10 years. www.anttirissanen.com
Jukka’s photo: Olli Nurmi
Antti’s photo: Jukka Rapo