My arranging course for this year is set for an international audience. I’m having four sessions in August on consecutive Saturdays, starting on August 3rd. Please check from the link below for more specific times and for more info:

Arranging course mini-site:

…or as it often is in Finland, it’s pretty chilly until we get to about July:) Exciting things ahead anyway:

We’re performing music for an old Finnish silent film, Meren Kasvojen Edessä (1926), together with our Ostrobothnian Rhythm Orchestra in August in Vaasa, Finland. I’ve composed this a while ago for a smaller ensemble, but now we’re performing it with a 13-piece ensemble. Should be fun, and the movie itself is an exciting adventure! More here:

https://ritz.fi/event/film-concert-meren-kasvojen-edessa/

I’m also happy to conduct Tapiola Sinfonietta a couple of times in the fall period, together with Mimmit-group. We’ll be recording music for a radioplay, and there’s gonna be a concert later on in November also. Here:

https://www.espoo.fi/en/events/espooevents:aghq5ko7eu

Happy New Year! The coming year is filled with interesting things, can’t wait to get to work on all of them! We’ll be recording some new material with Jukka Eskola and Teppo Mäkynen, the release will be later this year. Also lots of different arranging and orchestration things in the pipeline, and a trip to Sweden in March with Allegro Big Band.

And excited to hear my new work for cello, voice and saxophone, featuring my dear wife on cello and my former teacher, Jukka Perko, on saxophone. Concert on the February 2nd:

https://kamariorkesteri.fi/kamarimusiikkisarja-paikan-henki-hetkia-kirkon-vuosisadoilta/

Internet did its magic: I got a contact from Iowa State University, more precisely its jazz studies leader Mike Giles, who wanted to feature my big band composition “Good Night and Good Luck” on their upcoming concert. Would be nice to hop over there to listen, but geography might put a stop on that. Anyway, Thanks Mike!

The new year is upon us, some new things cooking as well. I am currently putting together new material for a project that will include trumpeter Jukka Eskola and drummer Teppo Mäkynen, stay tuned for that. In early January I finished a 15 minute work for a string orchestra, commissioned by violinist Kreeta-Maria Kentala.

Also working on a new big band-project for the Air Force Big Band here in Finland, that will get its first performance in 2024-2025 season. The work will feature live visuals, so there are a lot of things to consider. The visuals are designed by the magnificent video artist Arash Irandoust!

Will also be working with the Air Force BB as an instructor, in guiding the Sibelius-Academy wind conducting class to the secrets of how to conduct a big band.

I’m happy to release an album’s worth of new music, under Jussi Lampela Ensemble! 8 tracks are available today at most streaming sites, go ahead and have a listen:

https://songwhip.com/jussilampelaensemble/jussi-lampela-ensemble

The personnel for the album is the following:

Reijo Tunkkari, vln (1,2,3,4,5,7,8)

Annica Heino, vln (1,2,3,4,5,7,8)

Hanna Pakkala, vla (1,2,7,8)

Ari Hanhikoski, vla (3,4,5)

Ulla Lampela, cello (1,2,3,4,5,7,8)

Jonas Kuhlberg, el. bass

Timo Roiko-Jokela, drums/percussion

+ a special guest on “Surly Bonds”: Jukka Eskola, trumpet

Mixing: Tommi Vainikainen (1,2,4,6,7,8), Miikka Huttunen (3), Markus Isojärvi (5)

Artwork: Pirkko Mäkelä-Haapalinna

Jazz Noir has been getting overwhelmingly good reviews, below a summary from a couple (in Finnish…):

Loistelias jazzsävellys, oikeastaan orkesterisarja, big bandille, kahdelle solistille ja äänitallenteille/videoprojektioille ei ole enää pelkästään sodan historiaa film noir -rikosviitteillä ja ”agenttijazzilla”. Se on maailmanpoliittista kommentaaria tässä ja tänään.

Juuri ihmisten läsnäolo tekee konsertista sen oikean paikan nauttia tästä mestariteoksesta, joka jää Suomen jazzin historiaan suursaavutuksena.

-Kari Salminen, Turun Sanomat 10.09.2022

Tämänhetkinen maailmantilanne sälyttää albumiin säpsäyttävää ajankohtaisuutta: YYA-Suomen mielenmaisemasta on lyhyt matka Ukrainan sotaan.

Jazz Noir vakuuttaa myös teknisesti. Soinnin livemäisen avara dynamiikka ja tekstuurien rikkaus kasvattavat musiikin kosketuspintaa poikkeuksellisten sisällöllisten merkitysten rinnalla.

Matti Komulainen – Turun Sanomat – 22.08.2022

We are having a record release gig in Sep 9, 2022 at Linnateatteri, Turku. Come around, if You’re nearby:

https://www.linnateatteri.fi/ohjelmisto-liput/turku-jazz-orchestra–jussi-lampela-jazz-noir

jazz Noir album is now released, and can be found on most popular streaming sites. Take a listen:

https://songwhip.com/turkujazzorchestra/jazz-noir

And a reminder, our release concert is on Sep 9, in Turku, Linnateatteri. Hope to see You there!

https://www.linnateatteri.fi/ohjelmisto-liput/turku-jazz-orchestra–jussi-lampela-jazz-noir

The first single from my upcoming big band album is out now! The album will be released in Sep 2022, with help from Flame Jazz Records.

I had the chance to record the music with Turku Jazz Orchestra in 2021, together with the great soloists Jukka Perko on sax and Jukka Eskola on trumpet.

The single is out on most streaming platforms, choose your preferred listening method here:

https://songwhip.com/turkujazzorchestra/yyasopimus