Closing Concert: Heikki Sarmanto & Jyväskylä Workshop Band

The Jyväskylä Festival's closing concert in July will feature an exceptional lineup, with pianist and composer Heikki Sarmanto appears among the top names of Finnish jazz gathered with Jyväskylä Workshop Band ! The concert program spans different eras and will feature the world premiere of Sarmanto’s new composition dedicated to Jyväskylä Festival. This one-of-a-kind closing concert has been created entirely with Jyväskylä Festival in mind!

The ensemble refers to the 1970 Jyväskylä Workshop Band and brings together several key figures of Finnish jazz from different decades. In addition to Sarmanto (piano), the band includes Juki Välipakka (song), Juhani Aaltonen (flute) Reino “Reiska” Laine (drums), Jukka Eskola Trumpets, Eero Koivistoinen (saxophone) and Ulf “Uffe” Krokfors (bass). The average age of the seven-member lineup is 72 years.

Heikki Sarmanto is one of the central figures of Finnish jazz, and he has been widely awarded throughout his career both in Finland and internationally. The “all stars” lineup of the Jyväskylä Workshop Band includes other pioneers of Finnish jazz.

The lineup features the multi-award-winning Juhani Aaltonen, one of the most iconic figures in Finnish jazz. He has also performed at Jyväskylän Kesä several times alongside Sarmanto. Juki Välipakka, who has often been voted Finland’s best male jazz singer, is known for his broad musical expertise, and Reino “Reiska” Laine, who turns 80 in July, is known for his work behind the drums with many different bands and artists, such as Olavi Virta and Vesa-Matti Loiri. The lineup also features Jukka Eskola, who has racked up numerous awards throughout his career and has appeared on hundreds of Finnish recordings. Eero Koivistoinen, who has achieved great international acclaim, is known for his compositions and his thrilling saxophone playing, and bassist Ulf “Uffe” Krokfors has been an award-winning pioneer of free jazz for decades.

The closing concert will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will bring the Jyväskylä Festival week to a memorable close. Join us for a sparkling evening with the legends of Finnish jazz! The concert is held in Finnish.

Jyväskylä Workshop Band:

Heikki Sarmanto (piano)
Juki Välipakka (song)
Juhani Aaltonen (flute)
Reino “Reiska” Laine (drums)
Jukka Eskola (trumpet)
Eero Koivistoinen (saxophone)
Ulf “Uffe” Krokfors (bass)

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Start your festival day with breakfast, stop for lunch between concerts, or treat yourself to cake and bubbly at @semma.bakery!

Café Belvedere and the restaurants Ilokivi and Piato will serve Jyväskylä Festival participants at Seminaarinmäki and Mattilanniemi during the events held there. Belvedere offers a wide variety of café items and serves alcohol. Ilokivi and Piato are open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., serving both breakfast and lunch.

Addresses:

• Café Belvedere (main building, Seminaarinkatu 15)
• Ilokivi Restaurant (Student Union Building Ilokivi, Keskussairaalantie 2)
• Restaurant Piato (Mattilanniemi 2, Agora)

You can find more information about opening hours and services on Semma's website www.semma.fi or on their social media channels @semmarestaurants.

See you at Jyväskylä Festival!