Jazz Finland Residency welcomes pianist-bandleader Guillermo Klein
Jazz Finland, Sibelius Academy Jazz Music Department at Uniarts Helsinki, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and the Finnish Musicians’ Union launched a new international jazz residency program in August 2021. The program is happy to feature Argentinian-born pianist, composer and band leader Guillermo Klein as the next artist-in-residence from October 23rd until November 13th.
Pianist Guillermo Klein is known as a many-sided musician who incorporates influences from around the globe into his music.
Born in Buenos Aires, trained in the United States and based in New York today, he is a worldly jazz figure who winks at cultural pigeonholing. The classically trained Klein’s repertory has been described as a unique mix of modern jazz, classical music, Latin American folk music and rock, and he also names Argentinian tango as one of his influences. In his hands, these styles translate into colourful orchestrations, strong dynamic variation, polyrhythms and quirky syncopes.
Over his career, he has collaborated with the likes of Seamus Blake, Joshua Redman and various big bands, such as hr-Bigband and the Metropole Orchestra. He has released numerous albums with his own groups Big Van and Los Guachos.
The leading idea behind the residency program is to facilitate extensive networking with Finnish jazz professionals, in addition to supporting the participants’ own artistic work. The residency includes giving masterclasses at the Sibelius Academy Jazz Department, as well as performing with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The residency concept also enables local professional jazz musicians to initiate collaborations with the Artist-in-Residence. The concert with UMO Helsinki takes place in Vuotalo on the 27th of October.
Klein’s public performance dates in Finland during his stay will be updated at www.jazzfinlandresidency.fi
The Jazz Finland Residency is a new high profile residency program for invited jazz musicians, composers and conductors. Coordinated and administrated by Jazz Finland, the program annually invites two international guests for 1–2 month residencies in Finland. The residency includes giving masterclasses at Sibelius Academy Jazz Department, as well as performing with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The residency concept also enables local professional jazz musicians to initiate collaborations with the Artist-in-Residence.
Further residency partners include Music Finland, Finnish Jazz Musicians’ Association and the Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP).