Final Concert: Heikki Sarmanto & Jyväskylä Workshop Band

The Jyväskylän Kesän closing concert in July will feature an exceptional lineup, with pianist and composer Heikki Sarmanto appears among the top names of Finnish jazz gathered Jyväskylä Workshop Band Join us! The concert program spans different eras and will feature the world premiere of Sarmanto’s new composition dedicated to Jyväskylän Kesä. This one-of-a-kind closing concert has been created entirely with Jyväskylän Kesä 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 (splendor), 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 Jyväskylän Kesä festival week to a memorable close. Join us for a sparkling evening with the legends of Finnish jazz!

Jyväskylä Workshop Band:

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