Seppo Hovi & Classic Jazz Society All Stars

(Seppo Hovi p/acc/tarinat, Antti Sarpila cl/sop.sax, Vid Šketa trp, Pekka Toivanen ten.sax /cl, Kasperi Sarikoski trb, Wade Mikkola b, Thomas Rönnholm d) with special guest Elina Kardén voc

In the courtyard of the old Blast Furnace in Dalsbruk, the history of Finnish jazz is celebrated in the unique concert “JAZZ FINLAND 100 – ANDANIA BROUGHT JAZZ TO FINLAND”.

In the summer of 1926, the ship Andania arrived in Helsinki from America carrying musicians who brought with them the first notes of a musical style that had already taken the world by storm – jazz. From this moment began the story of Finnish traditional jazz. The concert features atmospheric melodies and stories from the golden years of jazz. Taking the stage is the charismatic Seppo Hovi together with the Classic Jazz Society All Stars ensemble: Antti Sarpila, Vid Šketa, Pekka Toivanen, Kasperi Sarikoski, Wade Mikkola, and Thomas Rönnholm. The guest vocal soloist is the excellent Elina Kardén. The concert combines classic jazz, engaging storytelling, and vivid historical tones. Under Seppo Hovi’s direction, the audience is transported back to the atmosphere of the 1920s, when jazz arrived in Finland and captivated listeners with its new rhythms. The raw and historic setting of the blast furnace enhances the spirit of the event, where music, stories, and a shared sense of celebration come together. This concert offers an immersive glimpse into the roots of jazz in Finland – carried by joy, rhythm, and history.

Andania image: Otava / JOKA Journalistic Photo Archive / Finnish Heritage Agency