What’s Happening

Juhamatti Kauppinen, who has had a long career as the Artistic Director of Tampere Jazz Happening, shares insights into the event’s last-minute arrangements, the challenges brought on by the renovation of Tullikamari, and what it feels like to leave behind a beloved festival after this edition. Alongside the sense of wistfulness lives an excitement for a new phase in life, where jazz continues to play a strong role.

Tomoki Sanders, a 30-year-old saxophonist and composer, now steps into the spotlight as a bandleader. Tomoki's music reveals both the enduring legacy of their father, Pharoah Sanders, and the vibrant joy of discovering their own artistic voice.

Swedish trumpeter, composer and bandleader Goran Kajfeš is a restless musical explorer. From genre-defying jazz collectives to collaborations with pop icons, his work spans decades and styles. Ahead of his performance at Tampere Jazz Happening with the hypnotic Tropiques, Kajfeš shares insights into his creative process, recent projects and what’s next on his ever-evolving musical journey.

The early-2000s success story The Five Corners Quintet is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its debut album Chasin’ The Jazz Gone By with a handful of selected gigs. The band is also returning to Tampere Jazz Happening, where it performed back in 2005. Drummer Teppo Mäkynen shares his current thoughts in our interview.

At the previous Tampere Jazz Happening, Helmi Anttila received the Taimi Prize, an award presented to a young musician who has developed their musical expression with passion. Over the past year, Anttila has experienced a dynamic period of artistic growth, and she now turns her focus to composing new material for her forthcoming album.