CLOSING CONCERT: HEIKKI SARMANTO & JYVÄSKYLÄ WORKSHOP BAND

Name: CLOSING CONCERT: HEIKKI SARMANTO & JYVÄSKYLÄ WORKSHOP BAND
Start: 2026-07-07T18:00:00+03:00
End: 2026-07-07T20:00:00+03:00
Location: Jyväskylä

took place · 7 Jul 2026

Jyväskylä

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Description was written before the event

Jyväskylä Summer's closing concert brings together pianist and composer Heikki Sarmanto with Jyväskylä Workshop Band, whose line-up echoes the 1970 ensemble. The programme spans different eras, and the concert features the world premiere of Sarmanto's new composition dedicated to Jyväskylä Summer.

The seven-member ensemble has an average age of 72 years. Alongside Sarmanto (piano), the band includes Juki Välipakka (vocals), Juhani Aaltonen (flute), Reino "Reiska" Laine (drums), Jukka Eskola (trumpet), Eero Koivistoinen (saxophone) and Ulf "Uffe" Krokfors (bass). Laine, who turns 80 in July, is known for his drumming work with Olavi Virta and Vesa-Matti Loiri.

Tickets: 32-55 €. Organiser: Jyväskylän festivaaliyhdistys ry, [email protected].

Line-up

Jyväskylä Workshop Band
Juki Välipakka
Regno "Reiska" Laine
Ulf "Uffe" Krokfors

About: Heikki Sarmanto

A cornerstone of Finnish jazz since the 1960s, Sarmanto brings together jazz improvisation and large-scale composition in a way few pianists have managed. His career stretches from early collaborations with American jazz legends to the 2024 album Stjärnenatten, recorded with vocalist Pamela Kilpeläinen.

782

Spotify monthly listeners

40+

Studio albums released

What's new

2026-05
Pamela Kilpeläinen and Heikki Sarmanto Trio performed at Café Carusel in Helsinki on 20 May 2026, presenting material from the 2024 album Stjärnenatten.
2024-05
Sarmanto and vocalist Pamela Kilpeläinen released the album Stjärnenatten (Alba Records), featuring settings of poems by Edith Södergran and Eino Leino.
2023-01
Jazz Journal published a review of New Hope Jazz Mass, calling it a landmark of Finnish jazz that crosses genre boundaries with courage.

Tracks

Flowers in the Water1969 debut album, recorded live at the University of Jyväskylä - a landmark of Finnish jazz

New Hope Jazz Mass1977 commission dedicated to Duke Ellington and John Coltrane; premiered at Saint Peter's Church, New York

Suomi SymphonySymphonic poem that premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1988

Stjärnenatten2024 album with vocalist Pamela Kilpeläinen, setting poems by Edith Södergran and Eino Leino

Counterbalance1971 album, re-released by Porter Records in 2008

Recent shows

About: Juhani Aaltonen

A living cornerstone of Finnish jazz, Junnu Aaltonen turned 90 in December 2025 and shows no signs of slowing down - these days he plays flute only, and by many accounts better than ever.

3500+

Recordings appeared on (career total)

Finnish state artist grant received (years)

What's new

2025-12
Aaltonen turned 90 on 12 December 2025 and recorded material for a new album with drummer Simo Laihonen at the We Jazz festival in late November 2025.
2025-11
A two-hour 90th-birthday concert at Savoy-teatteri in Helsinki on 18 November 2025 featured Aaltonen performing with long-time collaborators including Heikki Sarmanto, Iro Haarla, Ulf Krokfors and Raoul Björkenheim.
2025-11
The reissue of Aaltonen's 1979 album Springbird, expanded with a previously unreleased trio session called the Alppi session, was made available at the Savoy-teatteri birthday concert.

Tour

TampereHelsinki

Tracks

Hot Lotta1973 free jazz album with Edward Vesala, Peter Brötzmann and Peter Kowald; one of the most-rated works in his catalogue

Springbird1979 solo album, reissued in 2025 with a previously unreleased bonus session

Mother Tongue2003 trio album (TUM Records), winner of the Jazz-Emma prize in Finland

Strings1976 album with Henrik Otto Donner, described as a cornerstone of modern Finnish jazz

Just UsRecent duo album with Heikki Sarmanto on Jazzaggression label, flute and keyboard

Recent shows

Dec 17, 2025 Telakka, Tampere (FI)
Jul 14, 2022 Kirjurinluoto, Pori (FI)
May 10, 1980 Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki (FI)

About: Eero Koivistoinen

Eero Koivistoinen is a Finnish saxophonist and composer who has been a central figure in Finnish jazz since the 1960s. Known for his work on tenor and alto saxophone, he has developed a distinctive compositional voice and collaborated with numerous musicians both in Finland and abroad.

Recent shows

Oct 6, 2022 KokoTeatteri, Helsinki (FI)
Jul 16, 2016 Kirjurinluoto, Pori (FI)
Dec 11, 2015 Kulttuurisalonki, Helsinki (FI)

CLOSING CONCERT: HEIKKI SARMANTO & JYVÄSKYLÄ WORKSHOP BAND

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