Oulu Sinfonia Aili Ikonen and Oulu Sinfonia's Album Release Concert at Elojazz

The Valo album by Aili Ikonen and Oulu Sinfonia, set for release on 26th July, features the comforting songs of one of Finland’s most esteemed jazz vocalists, combined with the powerful sound of a large orchestra. The album offers a comprehensive exploration of Ikonen’s diverse solo career as a singer and songwriter. Alongside her own compositions, the album includes covers of songs that have become dear to the artist. The album release concert will take place on 1st August in Oulu at the Elojazz Festival, where Ikonen also serves as the new artistic director.

The concert promises to be a musical mosaic full of grand emotions and the vibrant, breathing sound of a lush orchestra. The previously familiar songs are transformed into a completely new entity. The joint interpretation by Ikonen and the symphony orchestra elevates the jazz nuances of the compositions to almost cinematic proportions under the direction of Oulu Sinfonia’s Chief Conductor Rumon Gamba.

– It has been an enormous privilege to record my own compositions with the wonderful musicians of Oulu Sinfonia and their fantastic conductor. I have always loved the sound of a large orchestra. Often, during the composition process, I can already hear orchestral tones in my music. It is so gratifying to hear my songs take flight with these brilliant new orchestral arrangements, says Aili Ikonen.

The album’s orchestral arrangements are crafted by a renowned team of arrangers: Mikko Pellinen, Mikko Hassinen, Sampo Kasurinen, and the late Jaakko Kuusisto, who played a significant role in shaping the project. Alongside the orchestra, Ikonen is accompanied by her own band, composed of Finland’s top jazz musicians: pianist Tuomas J. Turunen, double bassist Mikko Pellinen, and drummer Mikko Arlin. Guest soloists include trumpeter Janne Toivonen, saxophonist William Suvanne, and violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

The album’s title track, dedicated to the memory of Jaakko Kuusisto, is described by Ikonen as a comforting depiction of how music has the power to generate good around us. Ikonen hopes that the Valo album will serve its listeners in this very way.

– The album is named after my song Valo. It is a song about hope and kindness—things I believe this world needs more than ever.

This year, Aili Ikonen celebrates 20 years as a recording artist. Her extensive career includes four solo albums, big band productions, interpretations of Ella Fitzgerald, television appearances, and even 1960s jazz hits. Ikonen has performed widely with leading contemporary artists such as Jukka Perko and Hector. She has also been a soloist with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, and UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. Ikonen is also known as a member of the a cappella group Rajaton.

At the album release concert at the Elojazz Festival in Oulu on 1st August, the audience will hear a wide range of songs from Ikonen’s solo albums. The set will also include Luonasi sun (What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life) translated into Finnish for Ikonen by Hector, and Junnu Vainio’s evergreen Kotkan poikii ilman siipii, which on the album features violinist Pekka Kuusisto as a guest soloist.

Tickets for Aili Ikonen’s Valo album release concert at the Elojazz Festival in Oulu on 1st August are available in Ticketmaster.

Aili Ikonen & Oulu Sinfonia: Valo
Thu 1.8.2024 at 7 PM
Oulu Music Centre, Madetoja Hall

Rumon Gamba conductor
Aili Ikonen vocals
Tuomas J. Turunen piano
Mikko Pellinen bass
Mikko Arlin drums
Oulu Sinfonia

Aili Ikonen and Oulu Sinfonia’s Album Release Concert at Elojazz