17.15

Lauri Kallion yhtye

Lauri Kallio is a versatile music professional whose work can be found on approximately forty releases. He has contributed as a recording engineer, mixer, producer, composer, and arranger—and naturally as a performer, primarily a guitarist. In recent years, Kallio has become well-known for his work with bands such as Pambikallio and the Jimi Tenor Band. His second album, Turtles, Cats and Other Creatures, was released in 2025. 

Lauri Kallio’s ensemble plays music where the "landscape, open to interpretation, leaves the listener with the responsibility and freedom to seek out stories and their meanings. Then again, you don’t have to do that either; you can just be and enjoy." (Pekka Laine) 

Lauri Kallio – guitar 
Adele Sauros – saxophones & flute 
Natalia Castrillón – harp 
Ville Rauhala – bass 
Joonas Leppänen – drums 

Photo: Jimi Tenor

13.30

Chico Matada

Chico Matada is a Mozambique-born drummer, composer, and bandleader whose music blends African rhythmic traditions with modern jazz, cinematic arrangements and improvisation. Released in April 2026 by Eclipse Records, his latest album features a multinational ensemble of musicians. At Jazz-Espa, Matada presents his unique compositional language, where deep-reaching roots and modern expression converge. The music is simultaneously meditative and rhythmically vibrant—an invitation for the audience to pause, listen, and feel. 

Rafa Postel – trumpet 
Nikita Rafaelov – piano and synthesizers 
Hector Lepe – guitar 
Melik Turunen – bass 
Chico Matada – drums 

Photo: Linda Lehtovaara

16.00

J TIKKA

J TIKKA is the solo project of saxophonist Jarno Tikka. On his recent debut album, Hear My Whisper, he blends jazz tradition with modern hip hop. The album is a captivating example of contemporary Scandinavian jazz, where Tikka’s soulful saxophone merges seamlessly with MPC drum machine rhythms familiar from the world of hip hop. 

On the record, Tikka handled all instruments and production himself. In a live setting, however, the music comes to life through a brilliant ensemble, allowing the compositions to take on a new form. 

Jarno Tikka – saxophone 
Mikko Antila – vibraphone, keyboards, percussion 
Eero Seppä – bass 
Okko Saastamoinen – drums 

Photo: Samu Hintsa

17.15

Eero Savela Quartet

Eero Savela Quartet’s music is built upon the compositions of trumpeter and composer Eero Savela, which serve as the foundation for the ensemble’s interplay. Clear melodies provide an accessible surface, yet the band broad-mindedly pushes the music into freer directions. Released in August 2025, the album Way To was nominated for an Indie Award, and Tina Edwards of BBC Radio 3 ranked it among the best releases of the year. 

The quartet’s musicians represent several generations and are well-known figures across jazz and various other musical genres. Their playing emphasizes listening, interaction, and a distinctive collective sound. 

Eero Savela – trumpet 
Seppo Kantonen – electric piano 
Eero Tikkanen – double bass 
Joonas Leppänen – drums 

Photo: Klaus Elfving

13.30

Arto Ikävalko Trio

Arto Ikävalko Trio brings an intense and experiential concert to Jazz-Espa, where the traditions of modern acoustic piano trio jazz meet a fresh and original compositional voice. The performance features Arto Ikävalko’s atmospheric and surprising compositions from the trio’s debut album Changing Priors (2024), newer unreleased material, and selected jazz standards reimagined with the ensemble’s unique touch. Through his compositions, Ikävalko creates atmospheric imagery of different worlds that take on a life of their own as the band members breathe life into them through their playing. 

Arto Ikävalko – piano 
Joonas Tuuri – bass 
Ville Luukkonen – drums 

Photo: Jori Huhtala

16.00

Mikko Pettinen Why Not

Mikko Pettinen Why Not is a top-tier Finnish jazz ensemble whose expression is built on strong interaction, precise musicianship, and the nuanced language of modern jazz. The group’s founder and leader, trumpeter Mikko Pettinen, is known for his personal compositional style, which emphasizes clear forms, subtle dynamics, and a sense of space. 

The ensemble performs repertoire from the album Patient Patient (Eclipse Music, 2025), a work rooted in Pettinen’s personal experiences. The record received a full five-star review from Kulttuuritoimitus and was nominated in the jazz category at the Indie Awards. Additionally, journalists from Yle selected the album as one of the ten best releases of 2025. 

Mikko Pettinen – cornet, trumpet, Organelle M, vocals 
Joakim Berghäll – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, kalimba 
Vesa Ojaniemi – bass 
Tuomas Timonen – drums 

Photo: Teemu Mattsson

17.15

Pepa Päivinen Peacepipe

Pepa Päivinen, a saxophonist and flutist known for boldly breaking boundaries, is one of the cornerstones of Finnish jazz. The music of his new Peacepipe ensemble is peacefully melodic and atmospheric, while also venturing into edgy, energetic prog, jazz, and free music. Finding its way deep into the consciousness, the group's expression seeks to kick down musical fences and discover interesting new paths. This quartet, creating an impressive atmosphere through collective sensitivity, consists of veteran musicians with strong individual voices. 

Pepa Päivinen – saxophone, flute 
Timo Kämäräinen – guitar 
Ville Herrala – double bass 
Mikko Hassinen – drums 

Photo: Teemu Mattsson

13.30

Veikka Kajamies Trio

The trio of Turku-based drummer Veikka Kajamies, recipient of the Finnish Jazz Federation’s 2025 Taimi Award for young talent, draws from the tradition of swinging improvisation while looking firmly toward the future. Their spontaneously bold and seamlessly intertwined interplay comes to the fore, captivating the audience with original compositions painted with a broad brush and carefully selected covers. 

Having begun their musical journey together in the Sibelius Academy’s youth program in 2019, this energetic trio features Kajamies alongside fellow Taimi Award-winning pianist-clarinetist Joonatan Henriksson and bassist Otso Huhtala, known for his work with the UMO. 

Joonatan Henriksson – piano & clarinet 
Otso Huhtala – bass 
Veikka Kajamies – drums 

The concert is organised in collaboration with the Jazz Department of the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.  

Photo: Enni Merinen

16.00

Heli Hartikainen

In the music of saxophonist, composer and sound artist Heli Hartikainen, experimental sonic textures and hypnotically transforming soundfields come out to play. Hartikainen’s debut solo album, CHRONOVARIATIONS, which utilizes 3D audio technology, was awarded the Kritiikin Kannukset (Spurs of Criticism) prize in 2025 for the year's most significant artistic breakthrough and was nominated for an Emma Award for Best Jazz Album of 2024. 

On their new album, Interbody (2026), Hartikainen utilizes active sampler software developed for them and customized in collaboration with sound engineer Kaj Mäki-Ullakko. The polyphonic sampler is controlled by Hartikainen’s tenor saxophone; its operating principle is characterized by a certain randomness, allowing improvisation and algorithmic chance to weave into an organic dialogue between a human and a machine. 

Heli Hartikainen – tenor saxophone and live electronics  

Photo: Heidi Piiroinen

17.15

Olli Soikkeli Django Trio

Olli Soikkeli has risen to become one of the most respected jazz manouche guitarists in the world. Having lived in New York for over ten years, Soikkeli has performed alongside the genre's international stars at jazz clubs and festivals throughout Europe and the United States. 

Now, he appears in Finland with his new Django Trio, in which Soikkeli is accompanied by guitarist Brad Brose and bassist Joonas Tuuri. The Jazz-Espa performance is part of the Finnish record release tour for Soikkeli’s recent album Comeback. 

Olli Soikkeli – guitar 
Brad Brose – guitar 
Joonas Tuuri – double bass 

Photo: Laercio Luz

16.00

New3

New3 is a trio formed by three rising young jazz musicians, combining two vocals and woodwinds in a fresh way. The members' original compositions and arrangements of poignant songs create a musical environment full of space, experimentation, improvisation, honest interpretation, and presence. The band members are known from groups such as the Helmi Antila Quartet, Mattsson/Herrala/Kallio and Siina Suutarinen. The musicians met at the Sibelius Academy’s jazz department, and their friendship is strongly audible in their music. 

Helmi Antila – vocals, piano, keyboards 
Siina Suutarinen – vocals, piano, keyboards 
Oona Mattsson – saxophones and flute 

Photo: Pyry Ahonen

17.15

Elifantree

Elifantree is the brainchild of vocalist Anni Elif, saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen, and drummer Olavi Louhivuori. Energetic and unpredictable, their music moves freely between precision and rawness, often hinting at surreal and abstract imagery. Their sound is playful yet highly articulate, guided by a fearless spirit of improvisation. 

Their forthcoming seventh album, due in May 2026, is a mystical journey where vocals, tenor saxophone, drums, mellotron, live electronics, and synthesizers merge into an organic, ever-shifting whole—echoing jazz, free improvisation, prog, and pop, yet fully belonging to none. 

Anni Elif – vocals, synthesizers 
Pauli Lyytinen –  saxophone, ewi, effects, drum machine, mellotron 
Olavi Louhivuori – drums 

Photo: Tero Ahonen

14.00

Beatbox & Cupola

Beatbox & Cupola brings a rhythmic world to Jazz-Espa’s Children’s Saturday, where the traditional roles of instruments are turned upside down! In the duo of Felix Zenger and Lauri Wuolio, rhythms are created with the mouth, and melodies are played on a drum. This preview of Konserttikeskus’s upcoming repertoire introduces two unique and distinct instruments: beatboxing—rhythm produced by the human voice—and the cupola, a melodic metallic percussion instrument. In this inspiring and energetic yet occasionally near-meditative performance, the audience also gets to learn the basics of beatboxing. 

Top masters of their instruments, Wuolio and Zenger demonstrate that music can be made in one’s own way and from one’s own perspectives. Zenger has performed worldwide with stars such as Pharrell Williams, and his most popular YouTube video has nearly 40 million views. Lauri Wuolio is one of the most internationally renowned cupola players; his albums, released under the name Kumea Sound, have been streamed over 50 million times. 

Felix Zenger – beatbox 
Lauri Wuolio – cupola 

The concert is organized in collaboration with Concert Centre Finland. 

Photo: Atte Mäläskä

14.30, helsinKI CENTRAL

Jazz in Finland 100 Walk: The Curious Places of Jazz 

The "Curious Places of Jazz" cultural walk dives straight into the living history of Finnish jazz. How did jazz arrive in Helsinki via the steamship Andania a century ago, and where did it take root? Who were the creators of jazz, who kept the swing alive, and what evidence remains of it all today? The walk departs from the Market Square, tours the Helsinki city center, and concludes at the Esplanade Park just as the next Jazz-Espa concert begins. The duration of the walk is approximately 90 minutes.    

Capacity is limited to 20 participants; pre-registration is required. Registration opens on Wednesday, May 13 at 2:00 PM via the provided link. Note: the walk is in Finnish. 

The walk is led by Janne Mäkelä, an experienced cultural history researcher, performer, and author. Mäkelä’s published works include Nubbenin levyt (Artist Lars-Gunnar Nordström as a jazz collector), Säätäjä (Finnish Jazz Federation 50 years), and a history of international popular music. Mäkelä has served as the director of the Jazz & Pop Archive (now the Music Archive), worked on the Jazz Finland 100 web project, and is an active musician. 

Fotos: Andania (Otava / Journalistinen kuva-arkisto JOKA / Museovirasto) & Janne Mäkelä

17.30, kino regina

Jazz Legends in Finland

Finland 1965/1969/1978 • includes Yleisradio´s recordings Ella Fitzgerald in Helsinki (1965, 33 min), Jazz in the Living Room – Bill Evans Trio (1969, 30 min), and Sarah Vaughan in Helsinki (1978, 49 min) • DCP • Rating: All ages (S) • total duration 112 min • screening will be introduced by Lotta Kuusisto

In collaboration with Yle and as part of the Yle 100 anniversary, Kino Regina presents treasures from the Yle archives. The Ella Fitzgerald Quartet — comprising Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan, Keter Betts and Gus Johnson — performed at the Helsinki Culture House in March 1965. Bill Evans and his trio visited the home of the Ilkka Kuusisto family for an intimate concert surrounded by a small audience, while Erkki Toivanen interviewed the musicians between pieces. Sarah Vaughan was in top form during her 1978 concert held at Hotel Hesperia.

Kino Regina celebrates the Jazz in Finland 100 Anniversary with a serie of jazz films, featuring introductions by leading Finnish jazz musicians. The full summer program will be released on June 9. For more information on the screenings, visit kinoregina.fi.