Ilmari Rönkä & Mikko Antila Duo, Roope Kantonen 3 and Viba on the Jazz-Espa stage!

Schedule
1:30 p.m. Ilmari Rönkä & Mikko Antila Duo
4 p.m. Roope Kantonen 3
5:15 p.m. Viba

Ilmari Rönkä & Mikko Antila Duo
The music of the duo by saxophonist-flutist Ilmari Rönkä and vibraphonist Mikko Antila is chamber music jazz, which allows space for colors and shades. The repertoire of the duo, established in spring 2024, consists of new compositions by Rönkä and Antila, where the duo format is fully utilized: the warm harmony of woodwinds and vibraphone, the melodiousness of the pieces and the rhythmic energy of the duo captivate the audience. The compositions are influenced by classical and Brazilian music as well as the tradition of jazz.

Roope Kantonen 3 introduces a new voice in the jazz scene with its distinctive sound, where the rhythm is complemented by the eccentric sound of the bass clarinet. The trio’s music draws influences from traditional jazz, modern musical language and experimental elements. The band’s debut album Introducing was released this spring by Flame Jazz Records.

The band’s leader, Turku-born drummer, composer and teacher Roope Kantonen was awarded the Jazz Musician of the Year 2022 by the Finnish Jazz Musician’s Association. Kantonen, who graduated with a master’s degree from the Amsterdam Conservatory, is a musician with an international career and plays an active role in the Helsinki jazz scene, notably as the host of the weekly jazz jams at Sörkan Ruusu.

The trio consists of top musicians Max Zenger and Juuso Rinta, who are known for their unique way of interpreting their own instruments both as leaders of their own bands and as members of many of the hottest ensembles of the moment.

Viba
Singer-songwriter Virva Immonen, known by her stage name Viba, released her second full-length album with her band in February 2025. In the tracks of the album Harso, which move between dreams and wakefulness, the artist is both powerfully direct and vulnerably fragile. With this new material, Viba deepens her recognizable style that combines alt-pop influences and jazz, together with bassist Oskari Siirtola, who is responsible for the arrangements of the songs. Known for their direct audience contact live on stage, Viba’s profound songs are complemented by the band’s charming improvisation.