Esa Pietilä Liberty Ship
City : Espoo
Venue : Tapiola Church
Address : Kirkkopolku 6, 02100 Espoo, Finland
Time : 17:00
Esa Pietilä Liberty Ship
Renewed Liberty Ship ensemble at April Jazz Festival -26, presenting the premiere of a new large-scale composition.
Esa Pietilä – tenor saxophone, compositions
Recipient of the Yrjö Award as Jazz Musician of the Year in 2016, Esa Pietilä is one of the most distinctive composer-improvisers in Finnish jazz. His work brings together contemporary composition, free improvisation and a strong artistic vision. Pietilä is known for his numerous projects and for his ability to create musical structures in which individual expression and collective thinking are in balance.
Raoul Björkenheim – electric guitar
A central figure in Finnish improvised music, known from projects such as Krakatau and Scorch Trio as well as numerous international collaborations. Björkenheim’s playing brings together the raw energy of rock and the freedom of improvisation.
Håvard Wiik – piano (NO)
Norwegian pianist and composer, known among others from the band Atomic and his own Håvard Wiik Trio. Wiik’s expression moves fluidly at the intersection of modern jazz and contemporary music.
Christian Meaas Svendsen – double bass (NO)
A versatile Norwegian bassist active in jazz, contemporary music and free improvisation. His playing combines physicality with deep listening.
Olavi Louhivuori – drums, percussion
One of the most internationally sought-after Finnish drummers, known from collaborations with artists such as Tomasz Stańko and Marilyn Crispell, as well as from leading Finnish ensembles including Oddarrang, Superposition!, Ilmiliekki Quartet, Elifantree, Verneri Pohjola Monkey Mind and the Alexi Tuomarila Trio.
Iida-Wilhelmiina Sinivalo – cello
A cellist whose work spans classical music, contemporary composition and experimental projects. Sinivalo’s playing adds a deep, string-based dimension to the sound of Liberty Ship.
Max Savikangas – viola
A violist and composer active in the fields of contemporary and experimental music. His playing expands the ensemble’s texture and spatial sonority.