The Jazz in Finland 100 Discussion Series Opens at the Savoy JAZZFest on March 5–6
In celebration of the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary year, the Finnish Jazz Federation is organizing a series of jazz-related discussions in collaboration with the University of the Arts Helsinki and the University of Helsinki. The first discussions will be held in cooperation with the Savoy JAZZFest on March 5–6 at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki. On Thursday, March 5, the discussion will explore how jazz lives on, evolves, and is reflected in the work of today’s artists. On Friday, March 6, the focus shifts to the history of Finnish jazz and the broader significance of jazz in our popular culture and society.
Both events are free of charge. Read more about the discussions below and join us in celebrating the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary year!
On the Borders of Jazz
March 5, 5:00–6:00 pm
Savoy Theatre, Helsinki
Moderator
Tuuli Saksala (music journalist, YLE)
Speakers – musicians and songwriters
Teppo Mäkynen
Mariska
Hassan Maikal
Jimi Tenor
What happens when musicians move across genre boundaries and borrow ideas from one another? How does jazz live on, change, and resonate in the work of today’s creators—and how do artists from different stylistic backgrounds themselves articulate their relationship with jazz?
This panel discussion delves into the connections, interfaces, and fertile points of collision between jazz and other musical genres. Jazz is discussed both as a tradition in its own right and as an open source of influences: what jazz means to musicians, how it shapes their personal expression, and what new paths boundary-crossing musical work can open up. The conversation moves fluidly from the core of jazz to its outer edges—and above all, to the heart of good music.
Jazz Stories from Finland
March 6, 5:00–6:00 pm
Savoy Theatre, Helsinki
Moderator
Nina Öhman (PhD, MBA, musicologist, Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies, University of Helsinki)
Speakers
Vieno Kekkonen (musician)
Erkki Liikanen (Minister of State)
Sami Linna (musician, Lecturer in Jazz Music)
Pekka Jalkanen (composer, Docent)
Kaisa Mäensivu (musician)
Opening remarks by Jari Perkiömäki, Chair of the Finnish Jazz Federation, Lecturer, Rector Emeritus
Friday evening at the Savoy JAZZFest opens with a unique discussion event celebrating the Jazz in Finland 100 anniversary year. During the evening, the conversation dives into the history of Finnish jazz and the broader significance of jazz in our popular culture and society.
The speakers shed light on the musical and cultural role of jazz across different decades – from counterculture to the heart of the mainstream – while also challenging traditional narratives. Topics include jazz as an expression of youth culture, as well as its symbols and meanings in different eras. The discussion also compares the roots and development of jazz in Finland with its evolution in the United States, taking political, cultural and historical contexts into account.
This diverse panel brings forward both everyday and unforgettable moments from jazz history. Vivid stories from different decades and a wide range of perspectives enrich our understanding of the journey of Finnish jazz from the 1920s to the present day.
After the discussion, the evening continues with a concert by the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (tickets: Lippu.fi). UMO has been a central force in the development of Finnish jazz, and this year the orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary. Join us to experience the story of jazz from both familiar and new perspectives.
The year 2026 marks 100 years since jazz symbolically arrived in Finland aboard the Andania ship. The centenary celebration, Jazz in Finland 100, will highlight Finnish jazz and its artists at home and abroad, recognising jazz as an integral part of Finland’s cultural heritage. The Jazz in Finland 100 campaign is coordinated by the Finnish Jazz Federation.