The focal point of this concert is Tero Saarti, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s longstanding trumpet player. He has played for over 30 years in UMO, and his jazz playing is wonderfully lively and pulsating without ever being artificial or superficially technical. Saarti is an important solo powerhouse in UMO, and his trumpet and flugelhorn are really grooving.

For this concert programme, Saarti together with the conductor Mikko Hassinen has chosen his favourites of the vast production of the composer and trumpet player Kenny Wheeler (1930–2014).

– The album Music for Large & Small Ensembles from 1990 familiarised me with the tonal language of Wheeler’s jazz orchestra. I’ve always admired his way of composing also for small ensembles, says Saarti.

In addition to the songs from the album, the concert programme also contains other compositions by Wheeler, among others Mark Time, Gentle Piece and For Jan.

The concert also features premieres of new compositions by Tero Saarti, written especially for this concert.

Note the open rehearsal at the Cable Factory on Thursday September 21st>>

The trumpet player, composer and arranger Tero Saarti (b. 1971) has performed with UMO and his own quartet as well as also among others Riku Niemi Orchestra, Ricky-Tick Big Band, Espoo Big Band and the orchestra of Tampereen Työväen Teatteri. He is the artistic director of the festival Hietalahti Soi. Saarti teaches at the Sibelius Academy and at the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, and he is a sought-after lecturer and workshop leader in Finland and abroad. Saarti studied at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory and the Sibelius Academy.

NOTE! There will be pre-concert Deeper into the Show discussion events 45 minutes before the concerts (Malmitalo 5:15 pm, Vuotalo 1:15 pm) in the cafés of the venues. The discussion events are free of charge for ticket holders. During the talk, the conductor Mikko Hassinen and the soloist Tero Saarti will provide background for the concert (in Finnish). The aim of the events is to offer the listeners a more in-depth concert experience.

Duration 75 minutes, no intermission.

Photos: Heikki Kynsijärvi