Heta Halonen & Riitta Paakki on the Jazz Federation’s pilot tour

The duo Heta Halonen & Riitta Paakki will perform on the Finnish Jazz Federation’s pilot tour, giving concerts not only as public evening performances but also in care homes. The tour, which takes place in the Karelia and Savo regions, will visit Outokumpu, Kitee, Savonlinna, Kuopio, and Joensuu.

The duo of Heta Halonen & Riitta Paakki brings together two strong yet sensitive voices of Finnish jazz into a unique whole. The audience can expect an intimate and atmospheric concert experience where jazz standards, Finnish evergreens, and the duo’s own compositions and lyrics gain new dimensions.

Singer, actress, and songwriter Heta Halonen, crowned Tango Queen of 2022, is known for her versatile interpretative ability and charismatic stage presence. Her voice moves effortlessly between the worlds of jazz, tango, and musicals.

Pianist Riitta Paakki is a highly respected jazz musician, composer, and bandleader who received the Finnish Jazz Federation’s Yrjö Award in 2019. Her playing combines sensitivity with swinging rhythm, creating a profound, expressive, and interactive counterpart to Halonen’s singing.

Heta Halonen & Riitta Paakki

Heta Halonen – vocals
Riitta Paakki – piano

Concert Venues and Dates

Tue 18.11. daytime Outokumpu, care home / Outokumpu Department of Culture
Tue 18.11. at 18.00 Outokumpu, Kumpu School / Outokumpu Department of Culture
Wed 19.11. daytime Kitee, care home / Kitee Department of Culture
Wed 19.11. at 18.00 Kitee, Kiteesali / Kitee Department of Culture
Thu 20.11. daytime Savonlinna, care home / Olavin Jazz ry
Thu 20.11. at 19.00 Savonlinna, Kulttuurikellari / Olavin Jazz ry
Fri 21.11. daytime Kuopio, care home / Kuopio Jazz & Blues ry
Fri 21.11. at 19.00 Kuopio, Postitalo Parish Centre / Kuopio Jazz & Blues ry
Sat 22.11. daytime Joensuu, care home / Jazzkerho -76 ry
Sat 22.11. at 18.00 Joensuu, Joensuu Conservatory / Jazzkerho -76 ry

The tour is supported by the Eevi and Eemil Tanninen Foundation and the Finnish Music Foundation MES.

Jazz – heard and seen!

Finnish Jazz Federation’s essential form of operation is national touring. The annual touring activities enable approximately 100 concerts in 40 different locations all over Finland. The concerts mainly take place in their member organizations. Tours include both in-house productions and collaborations with external producers.

Photo: Thomas Rönnholm