Friday's Main Consert at Hupisaari Open-Air Theatre

1.8.2025

Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra

The Oulu Youth Jazz Orchestra is a joint youth big band formed by students from Madetoja Music High School and the Oulu Conservatory. The orchestra consists of 21 musicians aged between 15 and 19. Many members of this energetic and talented band go on to pursue professional music studies, and former OYJO musicians can now be seen and heard in some of Finland's top ensembles.

OYJO is a member of the Finnish Big Band Association and collaborates annually with other key players in Oulu’s rhythm music scene, including the Oulu All Star Big Band and the Elojazz Festival. The orchestra is conducted by Jaakko Jauhiainen.

Josefiina Vannesluoma & The Mortal Lease

Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease create music rich in nuance, where moods shift from ecstatic outbursts to restrained elegance. Named Artist of the Year, Vannesluoma captivated audiences at the Turku Jazz Festival in March with her new Finnish-language poetry compositions and a chamber music-inspired ensemble, where her jazz quintet was expanded with a string quartet and concert harp. At Elojazz, these compositions will be performed by Vannesluoma alongside saxophonist Adele Sauros, pianist Juho Valjakka, double bassist Joonas Tuuri, and drummer Ville Luukkonen.

Vannesluoma’s solo debut album The Mortal Lease (Flame Jazz Records, 2023) was warmly received (HS, TS, Soundi, among others) and was nominated for the Jazz Emma Award. Her new compositions continue to explore the themes of her debut: the search for meaning, the pursuit of timelessness, and the human need to be remembered. The lyrics, created in collaboration with poet Milka Luhtaniemi, delve into life’s profound significance through linguistic, tonal, and gestural symbolism.

Vannesluoma is currently working on her next album release. The new material was recorded in May with the ten-member Mortal Lease in Chamber ensemble.

Josefiina Vannesluoma – vocals
Adele Sauros – winds
Juho Valjakka – piano
Joonas Tuuri – double bass
Ville Luukkonen – drums

Francesca Tandoi Trio

Francesca Tandoi is an Italian jazz pianist, singer, and composer who has risen to international acclaim. Her playing combines virtuosic technique, a deep sense of swing, and a warm vocal tone, making her performances truly unique. Tandoi has appeared at major jazz festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz, and the Cork Jazz Festival, as well as in renowned concert halls around the world, including the Amsterdam Arena Stadium and Tokyo’s Hakuju Concert Hall.

Tandoi has released several albums, including Wind Dance, which was selected among the top ten jazz albums of 2017 by Japan’s Jazz Life magazine. She is also a sought-after educator, having given masterclasses at institutions such as the University of Washington and the University of Pretoria’s School of Music. At Elojazz, the Francesca Tandoi Trio will perform jazz standards and original compositions built on the strong interplay, improvisation, and rhythmic vitality of the classic piano trio tradition.

Francesca Tandoi – piano
Stefano Senni – bass
Giovanni Campanella – drums