Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble

Name: Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble
Start: 2026-07-22T18:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-22T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Espan lava

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 · 18:00

Espan lava, Helsinki

ilmainen

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Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble — Espan lava, Helsinki

The Finnish-Beninese-Tanzanian eight-piece Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble has evolved into a tightly knit rhythm group over 13 years. The band has released six studio albums, the latest being "Vive l'amour" released on 1.11.2024 (Rockadillo Records). On the album, HCE returns musically to its roots, blending Beninese traditional rhythms with Western and African American harmonic and melodic ideas.

The band has performed around the world from Korea to Canada and from Chile to Czechia, and has been selected for prestigious showcase events such as WOMEX, Mundial Montreal and Visa for Music.

Line-up:
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

About: Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble

Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble is an eight-piece group bringing together Finnish, Beninese and Tanzanian musicians who have played together for over 13 years. Their sound blends traditional rhythms from Benin with Western and Afro-American harmonies and melodies. The sixth studio album "Vive l'amour" came out in November 2024 on Rockadillo Records, and the group has performed at major world music showcases including WOMEX and Mundial Montreal.

Recent shows

Aug 25, 2023 Höyhtyän ostoskeskus, Oulu (FI)
Nov 4, 2022 Klubi, Tampere (FI)
Aug 3, 2022 CoolHead Brew, Helsinki (FI)

Source · www.espanlava.fi

Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble

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