UMO Helsinki Ensemble will play six concerts in Helsinki libraries during week 39, from 24th to 26th of September 2024. The library tour is part of UMO’s outreach work and the concerts are free of charge. At the end of the concerts, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions to the performers.
Pictures: Juuso Rintala & Petri Anttila
UMO Helsinki Ensemble: Max Zenger & Héctor Lepe
Tuesday 24.9. Kallio Library at 12 PM & Central Library Oodi, Maijansali at 3 PM
UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra saxophonist Max Zenger and guitarist Héctor Lepe will play jazz and bossa nova standards, where the moods and themes of the songs are directly or imaginatively related to both flora and fauna. The two musicians will also perform their own compositions.
Line-up
Max Zenger – woodwinds
Héctor Lepe – guitar
Duration: 40 min
UMO Helsinki Ensemble – Greetings from New Orleans
Tapulikaupunki Library Wed 25.9. at 12 PM
UMO Helsinki Ensemble performs classics from the birthplace of jazz music, New Orleans. In the 19th century, the Louisiana port city was a melting pot of cultures, where the heritage of European classical music, African and Caribbean rhythms and the mainstream American music of the time began to merge. The result was a new musical trend whose influence extends to popular music today. Along with ragtime, blues, spirituals and marches, a style called “jass music” was born, which eventually evolved into the genre we know today as jazz.
This free concert features early 20th century classics from New Orleans jazz pioneers such as King Oliver’s Snake Rag, Jelly Roll Morton’s Black Bottom Stomp and Louis Armstrong’s Potato Head Blues.
The UMO Helsinki Ensemble is a smaller ensemble formed from the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, whose musicians have extensive careers with UMO and in numerous projects of their own. The concert’s repertoire is designed by trombonist Kasperi Sarikoski, who also conducts the ensemble.
Line-up
Kasperi Sarikoski, trombone and band leader
Timo Paasonen, trumpet and cornet
Mikko Mäkinen, clarinet
Kirmo Lintinen, piano
Kenneth Ojutkangas, sousaphone
Markus Ketola, drums
Duration: 1 hour
Picture: Hannu Mattila
UMO Helsinki Ensemble: tribute to Chet Baker
Wed 25.9. at 3 PM, Malmi Library
This concert pays tribute to jazz trumpeter and singer Chet Baker (USA 1929-1988). As a trumpet player, Baker was a stylistic icon of 1950s West Coast cool jazz. His vocal style was a soft and intimate crooner. Baker, who died in his early 60s in the dark side of bohemian life, will perform some of his best-loved classics, including his signature song My Funny Valentine.
“Chet Baker played the trumpet like a dream and sang softly like a starry night.”
The UMO Helsinki Ensemble is a smaller ensemble made up of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, whose musicians have extensive careers both in the ranks of UMO and in numerous projects of their own. The concert’s repertoire is designed by trumpeter Mikko Pettinen, who also conducts the ensemble. In this concert we will hear Pettinen’s trumpet playing and his vocal talents.
Line-up
Mikko Pettinen, trumpet, vocals and band leader
Mikko Mäkinen, saxophone
Mikko Mustonen, trombone
Kirmo Lintinen, piano
Otso Huhtala, bass
Markus Ketola, drums
Duration: 1 hour
Picture: Heikki Kynsijärvi
UMO Helsinki Ensemble: A journey through the history of jazz music
Thursday 26.9. at 12 PM Rikhardinkatu Library and at 3 pm Herttoniemi Library
The UMO Helsinki Ensemble takes the listener on a journey through the history of jazz music, starting from New Orleans 100 years ago, through the danceable swing of the 1930s, to New York’s bustling 52nd Street and finally to more modern R’n’B-inspired tunes. Come and discover the birth and evolution of jazz music!
Line-up at the Rikhardinkatu Library:
Teemu Mattsson, trumpet and band leader
Olli Ojajärvi, woodwinds
Mikko Mustonen, trombone
Kirmo Lintinen, piano
Juho Kivivuori, bass
Markus Ketola, drums
Line-up at Herttoniemi Library:
Tero Saarti, trumpet and band leader
Manuel Dunkel, woodwinds
Pekka Laukkanen, trombone
Kirmo Lintinen, piano
Juho Kivivuori, bass
Markus Ketola, drums
Concert duration 45 min
Cover photo by Olli Nurmi