Olli Ahvenlahti Poet 2, OASBB & Zara McFarlane, Antti Lötjönen Quintet East

Elojazz 2023 concludes to Olli Ahvenlahti Poet 2 -concert!

Olli Ahvenlahti's The Poet, released in 1976, belongs to the history of Finnish fusion jazz, especially the album's last track "Grandma's Rocking Chair" has become a staple of it's genre. The Poet was heard first live after a long time on the Finnish Jazz Association's tour in 2006, when the album turned 30 years old. In the fall of 2022, 46 years since the release of vinyl, it was once again time to bring its music live to the stage.

For this reason, inspired by the great feedback of the concerts, Olli Ahvenlahti has composed new material for THE POET 2 – vinyl, which is planned to be recorded in the fall of 2023.

The concert will feature material compiled from both ensembles, in the strong fusion/funk spirit of the previous The Poet -record.

Performing as Poet 2:
Olli Ahvenlahti, Fender Rhodes
Jukka Eskola, trumpet
Joonatan Rautio, saxophone
Ville Herrala, bass
Jaska Lukkarinen, drums

Saturday's concert will also feature London-based singer-songwriter Zara McFarlane as the soloist of the Oulu All Star Big Band! McFarlane is one of the most significant rising stars of British soul jazz and the singer has been compared to Erykah Badu and Cassandra Wilson, among others. McFarlane's unique vocal sound combines soul, jazz, dub and Afro-funk, and in his music you can hear echoes of Nina Simone's intimate singing style and Pharoah Sanders' enchanting 70s jazz.

The OASBB concert features world music as well as classic jazz standards and arrangements which have been sung by, among others, the legendary Sarah Vaughan. The concert will be led by trumpeter Jukka Eskola, who is the artistic director of both Elojazz and Oulu All Star Big Band.

The concert will be opened by Antti Lötjönen's Quintet East. Lötjönen, who previously has performed in several different groups at Elojazz, brings his own new quintet to the festival this year. Free and rhythmic jazz, which has garnered international praise, radiates soloist power with the brass instruments of Mikko Innanen, Jussi Kannasteen and Verneri Pohjola. The always creative and personable Joonas Riippa plays drums.

Schedule for the event:
18:00
Antti Lötjönen Quintet East

19:30
OASBB & Zara McFarlane

21:00
Olli Ahvenlahti Poet 2