Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble

The Finnish-Beninese-Tanzanian eight-piece ensemble has evolved into a seamless rhythm band over 13 years.

The band has released six studio albums, the latest "Vive l'amour" came out on 1.11.2024 (Rockadillo Records). On the album, HCE returns musically to its roots, blending traditional Beninese rhythms with Western and African-American harmonic and melodic ideas. The band's dynamic and energetic live performances have set audiences dancing around the world - from Korea to Canada, from Sweden to France, and from Chile to Czechia. The ensemble has also been selected for major showcase events such as WOMEX, Mundial Montreal, and Visa for Music. HCE captivates both jazz and world music fans, regardless of age!

LINEUP:
Noël Saïzonou - percussion, vocals
Janne Halonen - guitar, vocals
Sampo Riskilä - bass, vocals
Juha Räsänen - drums, vocals
Mikko Pettinen - trumpet, vocals
Joakim Berghäll - saxophone, vocals
Kasheshi Makena - percussion, vocals
Visa Oscar - keyboards