Discussing the Future of Jazz at the Jazz-Espa Festival
In 2023, the Finnish Jazz Federation will host two interesting discussion events on the Espa stage as part of the Jazz-Espa festival.
On the opening day, July 29th, a panel will discuss the state of jazz in Finland yesterday, today, and in the future. The speakers include a wide range of industry professionals and influencers: Taike's director Kaisa Rönkkö, musician and composer Olli Ahvenlahti, executive director of Jazz City Turku, musician Jussi Fredriksson, lecturer and deputy head of the jazz education program at the Sibelius Academy, musician Sami Linna, and Yle's journalist and documentarist Pekka Laine. Political representation is provided by MP Nasima Razmyar (SDP). The discussion is moderated by Helsingin Sanomat's journalist Katri Kallionpää. The timing for discussing the state and future of the Finnish jazz scene is apt now that Finnish jazz will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026.
On Friday, August 2nd, the Jazz Federation collaborates with the music section of the Finnish Critics Association SARV to discuss the state of music journalism, focusing particularly on more marginalized music genres. As the media landscape changes and digitalization challenges traditional music journalism in many ways, it is important to consider whether these changes also bring opportunities and what the future of music journalism looks like. The discussion is led by culture journalist Siskotuulikki Toijonen. Participants in the discussion also include Yle's responsible producer for cultural news and current affairs content Satu Nurmio, musician and composer Selma Savolainen, and music maker, musician, and culture journalist Markus Nordenstreng.
The discussion program for the Jazz-Espa festival's jubilee year was developed by the executive director of the Finnish Jazz Federation, Maria Silvennoinen, who provides the following background on the discussions:
"The Finnish Jazz Federation has brought the most current jazz to the Espa stage for 25 years. Now the Jazz Federation wants to expand the festival offering to include current discussions and act as a catalyst for debate through the festival we produce. The week-long festival and the easily accessible Espa stage offer a unique opportunity to engage in current and participatory discussions about jazz as well as more broadly about music and culture.
We are very pleased to have such a fine and diverse panel of discussion participants for our jubilee year. Additionally, it is a pleasure to start cooperation with SARV. We warmly welcome everyone to listen and participate in the discussions and we gladly receive feedback on the events."
Monday 29.7. at 3 PM Espa stage
Panel discussion: "Jazz in Finland now and in the future" – A talk about jazz on the eve of Jazz in Finland's 100th anniversary.
Participants:
Kaisa Rönkkö (Taike, director)
Nasima Razmyar (Member of Parliament)
Jussi Fredriksson (Jazz City Turku, executive director, musician)
Sami Linna (lecturer, deputy head of the jazz education program, Sibelius Academy)
Olli Ahvenlahti (musician)
Pekka Laine (journalist, documentarist YLE)
The discussion is moderated by: Katri Kallionpää (Helsingin Sanomat)
Friday 2.8.2024 at 2:30 PM Espa stage
SARV X Jazz-Espa discussion event: "Where are you going - Finnish music journalism?"
In a joint discussion event organized by the Finnish Critics Association and Jazz-Espa, the current state of music journalism is reviewed and a look is taken at its future amidst the upheaval in the media landscape.
Participants:
Satu Nurmio (Yle's responsible producer for cultural news and current affairs content)
Selma Savolainen (musician, composer)
Markus Nordenstreng (music maker, musician, culture journalist)
The discussion is moderated by Siskotuulikki Toijonen (cultural journalist, SARV)
Free entry. The discussions will be held in Finnish.