We Jazz At Scope Festival
The Scandinavia-oriented Scope Festival will start its second year tomorrow here in Berlin. From October 18th to October 30th, people will get an extensive overview of the Scandinavian Jazz and beyond scene. The Helsinki-based We Jazz label will present a few bands of its artist roster on October 27th at Monarch, Skalitzer Straße 134.
Drummer Jaska Lukkarinen has formed his own band back in 2005 and will present music from his 2017 release “Origami”. Together with saxophonist Jussi Kannaste and bassist Antti Lötjönen, the piano-less trio is known for its exciting dynamics and is hailed as one of the best Finnish jazz groups.
The Bowman Trio has been given the “We Jazz Rising Star” award at the We Jazz Festival Helsinki in 2015 and they have released their debut album earlier this year, recorded in a small cafe. Again, a piano-less trio with drummer Sami Nummella being responsible for the compositions and Tomi Nikku (trumpet) and Joonas Tuuri (bass) completing the line-up. There is a lot happening on the seven tracks of the album, some of the material veering towards a chamber-like diction with Tomi Nikku leading beautiful pieces like “Summer In Visby”.
The third act to be showcased on this label night is another one without a piano. For its 10th release “Branches”, the trio Black Motor once again prove why Finland is one of the most exciting jazz countries in Europe. Downbeat reviewed one of their concerts five years ago saying that “Finland is ripe with new, important and exciting sounds, including Black Motor’s volcanic mojo”. That mojo is made by saxophonist Tane Kannisto, bassist Ville Rauhala, and drummer Simo Laihonen.
Also on tap during this special label night are DJs from the We Jazz roster, Alex Barck from Jazzanova, and Daniel Best from XJazz. You can also find all info on the festival right here:
