Aleksis Liukko Trio, Helmi Antila Quartet and Toomas Keski-Säntti Quartet on the Jazz-Espa stage!

Schedule
1:30 p.m. Aleksis Liukko Trio
4 p.m. Helmi Antila Quartet
5:15 p.m. Toomas Keski-Säntti Quartet

Founded in 2021, the Aleksis Liukko Trio plays pianist Aleksis Liukko’s brand new compositions as well as pieces from the album The Sonic Sessions released in 2022. Originally from Kuopio, Liukko, who later moved to Helsinki, graduated in 2019 with a master’s degree in music from the University of Gothenburg and he plays in Sointi Jazz Orchestra and Juho Peltoniemi Quartet, among others.

The current top Finnish musicians playing in Liukko’s trio include bassist Mikael Saastamoinen (e.g., Perussastamala, Linda Fredriksson) and drummer Okko Saastamoinen (e.g., OK:KO, Arppa). The trio creates a strong ensemble playing and natural musical communication. The tradition of African American music can be heard, and a skillful approach to improvisation creates energetic, Nordic and vividly colorful atmospheres.

Helmi Antila is a new generation singer-songwriter, pianist and violinist from Helsinki. Antila was awarded the Taimi Prize by the Finnish Jazz Federation as a young jazz talent in November 2024. “Helmi Antila is a musician who radiates light and inspiration around her. She is a multi-instrumentalist who masterfully controls her instrument and beautifully combines her technical skill with artistic sensitivity” the award jury describes their choice.

Helmi Antila – vocals, piano
Mikko Antila – vibraphone, percussions
Tuomo Purhonen – bass
Mooses Kuloniemi – drums
The concert is organised in collaboration with the Jazz Department of the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Helsinki-based pianist and composer Toomas Keski-Säntti recorded his debut album Unearth while living in New York. Released in March 2025 by the Spanish label Fresh Sound, the album features the award-winning piano virtuoso as a bandleader for the first time. The music from the album will be performed at Jazz-Espa by Keski-Säntti’s Finnish ensemble, featuring longtime musical collaborators.

Toomas Keski-Säntti – piano
Tomi Nikku – trumpet
Joonas Tuuri – bass
Teppo Mäkynen – drums