Blue Autumn

In the concert, the six-piece, atmospheric series of songs written by two leading Finnish artists, composer Leevi Madetoja and poet L. Onerva, become something new with a classical singer and a jazz band. In the hands of a band led by jazz pianist Aki Rissanen, classical music, jazz and Finnish poetry face an unprejudiced way. The melodies of the songs interpreted by the lyrical soprano Mari Palo remain in their recognizable original version. Behind her, the jazztrio acts as an equal voice without forgetting it’s jazz music roots.

In this mystical series of songs the finnish national influences combine with the sophisticated harmonic expression of French origin. The concert was premiered at the Helsinki Festival at the Huvilateltta 2017, Naantali Music Festival, Turku Jazz Festival, G Livelab in Helsinki, and Blueberry Hill Festival in Ilomantsi Church.

Mari Palo, soprano

Aki Rissanen, piano and arrangements

Teemu Viinikainen, guitar

Joonas Riippa, drums and percussion