This summer Scandinavia House hosts performances from some of Scandinavia’s most talented young jazz musicians, composers, and singers over five consecutive Thursdays, June 23 through July 21. All Summer Jazz concerts will be preceded by a reception on the Volvo Hall terrace starting at 6 PM.
Finnish pianist Tuomo Uusitalo leads an international jazz trio through standards and original compositions from his forthcoming album Love Song. Inspired by the jazz tradition, no performance is ever the same—Uusitalo thrills with spontaneous improvisation.
About Tuomo Uusitalo
Born in Tampere, Finland, Tuomo Uusitalo began playing the piano when he was six years old. As a teenager he experimented with different types of music, from classical to pop/rock, and soon became fascinated by jazz and the limitless possibilities of improvisation.
While studying music in at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria (the oldest jazz institute in Europe), Uusitalo had the opportunity to work and perform with many jazz legends including Bob Brookmeyer, Billy Hart, Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Cobb and Jim Rotondi, as well as many other well known jazz artists such as Steve Waterman, Riccardo del Fra, Wayne Darling, Juan Garcia-Herreros, Howard Curtis, Stjepko Gut, Charlie Miklin and many others. Since 2007 Uusitalo has played and toured across Europe as a solo pianist, as well as with various ensembles.
Uusitalo moved to New York City in 2012 following his graduation and has been living there ever since. He performs regularly around the city at numerous venues including NYC’s main jazz spots (Smalls, Mezzrow, Fat Cat, Zinc Bar, Cornelia Street Cafe, and more). In New York he has been able to work with several legendary jazz musicians including Curtis Lundy, Tyler Mitchell, David Schnitter, Jeff Hirschfield, Johnny O’Neal, Greg Bandy and Philip Harper as well as many notable musicians in the scene such as Ulysses Owens Jr., Dayna Stephens, Obed Calvaire, Elliot Mason, Peter Slavov, and Kyle Poole, to name a few.
In 2013 Uusitalo brought his original compositions to the Montreal Jazz Festival, where he was a part of the Jazz Composers-Series. Autumn 2014 found Uusitalo on the road with the One And Only Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, touring six weeks in the United States and Canada. That year he also began his a bi-monthly residency at Smalls Jazz Club, performing his original music and hosting the jam session with his eponymous trio.
July 7, 2016
July 7, 2016
Summer Jazz at Scandinavia House
THURSDAYS—6-23 THROUGH 7-21-2016—7 PM
Pre-concert reception—6 PM
$15 ($10 ASF Members)
Series pass $60 ($45 ASF Members)