Jazz Talk with Heikki Sarmanto and Friends

Jyväskylän Kesä concludes with a one-time gala concert that brings together a star-studded lineup of Finnish jazz musicians on stage. Pianist Heikki Sarmanto With a lineup of seven, the ensemble reflects the festival's rich jazz history – while also looking ahead.

Before the evening's closing concert, we'll stop to listen to stories. On the concert day Tuesday 7/7 at 11 AM A warm jazz discussion will take place at Kulttuuritalo Villa Rana, where Heikki Sarmanto and his musician friends reflect on his long career in jazz—and Jyväskylän Kesä’s rich history spanning decades. The event is accessible and open to everyone.

The discussion is led by Tuomas Paukku, guitarist, composer, and producer for Jazz Jyväskylä since the association's founding (2017). Under his guidance, the evening's themes will be jazz, music, and stories gathered along the festival's path.

Few people have as deep a connection to Jyväskylän Kesä as Heikki Sarmanto. His debut album Flowers in the Water (1969) was recorded at the time At the University of Jyväskylä, and the lineup for the closing concert of the evening bows to the year 1970 To Jyväskylä Workshop Band.

Sarmanto's career has taken him to jazz stages around the world and alongside top musicians – he has played with, among others, the recently deceased jazz legend Sonny Rollins An everyday story of a lifetime of jazz is at the heart of the discussion.

An opportunity to set the mood before the evening's climax: Heikki Sarmanto & Jyväskylä Workshop Band's closing concert at 6 PM in the main building's ceremonial hall of the university. Tickets for the concert are still available!

Photo: Juhani Aaltonen & Heikki Sarmanto in the Jyväskylän Kesän program booklet, 1982