Festival 9.9. - 13.9.2026

This year marks the celebration of one hundred years of Finnish jazz history. It's the Jazz Finland 100 anniversary year.

Kerava Jazz has chosen the joint concert by Aurora Hentunen Quintet and Selma Savolainen’s in the shade ensemble as the festival’s centennial celebration concert. The reasoning is clear: both Aurora and Selma possess a distinctive artistic vision and are creating new Finnish jazz of their own.

The third featured artist of the main concert event comes from Norway, one of the leading countries in Nordic jazz. Like the musicians mentioned above, saxophonist Marthe Lea follows her own unique artistic path. Her band’s performance promises to be an unparalleled musical firework display.

The festival opens in traditional style with a church concert. Italian saxophonist Dimitri Grechi Espinoza and jazz pastor Markku Salo will present the project A Love Supreme, honouring the spiritual legacy of John Coltrane, whose centenary is also being celebrated.

This year’s free jazz programme is presented by Jorma Tapio & Kaski, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary. “Joppe’s” music, deeply rooted in Finnish free jazz traditions, embodies the spirit of one hundred years of Finnish jazz in a remarkable way.

The free concert programme will also showcase the many shades of Finnish jazz. Jarmo Saari will perform a multifaceted guitar spectacle with his one-man ensemble Solu, while Kanvas — a group of talented young jazz musicians — will present Finnish vocal jazz.

A concert aimed at all residents of Kerava — without forgetting neighbouring communities, of course — promises “a colourful, life-affirming, and swinging concert experience that takes the audience through the many stages of human life.” The event has been put together by Kerava legend A-P Niemi.