Our popular Summer Jazz Series returns to Scandinavia House! This summer we’re presenting performances from some of Scandinavia’s most talented young jazz musicians, composers, and singers on Thursday evenings, June 7 through July 19. Join us for a reception on the Volvo Hall terrace starting at 6:30 PM, followed by the concert at 7 PM.
Northbound, a trio featuring Tuomo Uusitalo on piano, Myles Sloniker on bass, and Olavi Louhivuori on drums, takes the language of jazz to surprising new levels, using the unlimited expressive options of their instruments. Playing with a wide-ranging harmonic palate, these young and award-winning artists find introspective moods ranging from fiery to serene through free interaction following a balanced, essential design. For this performance they will feature soloist and acclaimed sax musician Rich Perry.
About the Musicians
Rich Perry has recorded 20 albums as a leader, and has appeared as a sideman or featured soloist on over 55 more recordings, including being featured with the George Mraz Quartet, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the Matt Panayides Group, Dave Scott, Gary Versace, Mark Soskin, and the John Fedchock New York Big Band. Born in 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, Perry became interested in jazz in high school, and studied briefly at Bowling Green State University, before moving to New York to freelance. In 1977 he joined the legendary Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra which at that time included Pepper Adams, Jerry Dodgion, Rufus Reid, and Harold Danko and spent the next two years touring the U.S. and Europe. After Thad Jones left the band, Perry continued playing with Mel Lewis, recording three LP’s with him, including Live in Montreux, and Naturally. The band, with Perry as a key member, is now known as The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and continues to play every Monday night at the Village Vanguard in New York as the group continues to tour and record. Three of their recent CDs have been nominated for Grammy Awards. Perry frequently works as a guest soloist with various professional and university groups in the U.S. and abroad, and he presently is on faculty at William Paterson University, New York University, and Manhattan School of Music in New York. Perry has additionally played with numerous other notable figures in jazz, including Chet Baker, Paul Bley, Machito, Lee Konitz, Rufus Reid, Richie Beirach, George Mraz, Renee Rosnes, Billy Hart, Fred Hersch, Dave Stryker, Harold Danko, and more.
Born into a musical family, Olavi Louhivuori grew up in Jyväskylä, in central Finland, surrounded by music and musicians. He began studying violin at the age of 4, and later studied cello, piano, and drums. He later studied Finnish Music Conservatory of jyväskylä for 3 years, where he joined numerous different jazz groups, including the Joona Toivanen Trio and the Jyväskylä Junior Big Band, and performed and jammed with local and international musicians such as Jukka Perko and Indgrid Jensen. Louhivuori later studied at the prestigeous Sibelius Academy with Jukkis Uotila. He has won the competition of the ‘Young Nordic Jazz Groups’ three times and performed on tours in the U.S, Australia, Asia, and Europe. For the past few years Louhivuori has been touring the world as a drummer of Tomasz Stanko Quintet. Louhivuori has additionally performed with internationally acclaimed artists such as Lee Konitz, Anthony Braxton, Marilyn Crispell and Susanne Abbuehl, and has played with groups such as the Finnish Umo Jazz Orchestra and Piirpauke.
Myles Sloniker is a bassist and composer based in New York City. He has performed with a long list of eclectic musical luminaries including Ron Miles, Jeff Coffin, David Hazeltine, and David Amram, among others. He began his career as a musical performer in his teens, and after switching his focus to upright bass, he began performing alongside his father in jazz clubs and at festivals. Sloniker later studied jazz bass performance at the University of Northern Colorado, while also performing as a sideman and collaborator for various groups. He later studied at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, where he studied with Ron Carter and Kirk Nurock. Aside from his work in jazz circles, Sloniker has also been involved in collaborations with theatre and dance, most notably at the New York International Fringe Festival, and with artist and choreographer Nick Cave.
Tuomo Uusitalo is an award-winning pianist, composer, arranger and educator. Having released two albums as a leader, and appearing on numerous albums as a sideman, he has established himself in the New York jazz scene, and continues touring internationally both as a leader as well as sideman. Born in Tampere, Finland, Uusitalo started to play piano at the age of 6, and soon became fascinated by jazz and spontaneous improvisation. He later studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria (the oldest jazz institute in Europe), and worked and performed with jazz legends such as 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. After relocating to NYC in 2012, Uusitalo has performed regularly at jazz venues throughout the city, while working with artists such as 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, Rich Perry, Justin Brown, Elliot Mason, Peter Slavov, Josh Evans, Brandon Lewis, Gerry Gibbs, Scott Tixier, Jason Brown, Luques Curtis, Tivon Pennicott, Troy Roberts, Russell Hall, Evan Sherman, Alexander Claffy and Kyle Poole, and others. Since 2007 Tuomo has additionally played and toured all around Europe as a solo pianist and with various ensembles ranging from Piano Trio to Big Bands. His 2012 debut CD, Trio, won the Downbeat Student Music Award for the Best Small Jazz Group, and that year he also won the same price for the Best Latin Group (Marco Antonio Da Costa Group). In 2013 he was the recipient of prestigious Sir Roland Hanna Award from City University of New York. In the fall of 2014 Tuomo toured with Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and began a bimonthly music residency at Smalls Jazz Club. In 2016 Tuomo released his second album as a leader, Love Song, on Fresh Sound Records.
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Image courtesy of Northbound
THURSDAY—June 7—7 PM
Pre-concert reception—6:30 PM
$15 ($10 ASF Members)
Series pass $60 ($45 ASF Members)