Jazz-Espa celebrated the centennial history of Finnish jazz with a diverse program
Organised by the Finnish Jazz Federation, Jazz-Espa once again brought together top talents and new creators of Finnish jazz. In honor of the Jazz in Finland 100 Anniversary year, the festival expanded beyond concerts to include discussions, film screenings, a walking tour and open jam session.
Organized for the 27th time, the free concerts at Jazz-Espa offered a diverse lineup of the latest in Finnish jazz. A total of 55 musicians performed at Jazz-Espa, including both rising talents and internationally renowned artists.
New collaborative initiatives organized in honor of the Jazz in Finland 100 Anniversary year included an open jam session at the Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo), jazz-themed film screenings at Kino Regina and a walking tour showcasing historically significant jazz locations in Helsinki. The festival was opened by a Jazz in Finland 100 Discussion titled “Jazz and Peace”, which highlighted, among other things, the political dimensions of art and the importance of promoting diversity in music.
The festival concluded with the third annual Children’s Saturday, where the audience was entertained and taken on a joyful musical journey by ZikiZiki-Trio and Beatbox & Cupola. The duo of Felix Zenger and Lauri Wuolio provided the biggest surprise of the week when rap artist Tommy Lindgren joined them on stage to perform.
Tuula Musakka, who produced the event for the second time, is delighted by the diverse crowd that came to listen to the concerts. “A curious audience gathered in the park every day and the most persistent ones stayed with us even in the rain. Concert after concert, the skillful musicians made us stop in the moment and enjoy through their playing.”
Help us develop the event
The Finnish Jazz Federation is collecting feedback on the Jazz-Espa event via a questionnaire. Feedback is requested to improve the accessibility of the event. By answering, you can provide your own valuable contribution to the development of Jazz-Espa. The survey can be answered anonymously in Finnish and English. The survey is open until September 7, 2026.
Thank you to our partners
Jazz-Espa is produced by the Finnish Jazz Federation, and the event is carried out in cooperation with the Savoy Theatre, which manages the Espa Stage. The event was supported by: City of Helsinki, Pop & Jazz Conservatory, the Jazz Music Department of the Sibelius Academy at the University of the Arts Helsinki, the Finnish Music Foundation, Concert Centre Finland and Restaurant Kappeli. The Jazz Federation warmly thanks all who made the event possible.
The photo shows saxophonist Heli Hartikainen, whose solo concert on July 30 at Jazz-Espa featured a polyphonic sampler software that reacted live to Hartikainen’s playing. Photo: Sakari Puhakka.