Nuance is a Helsinki-based group run by Kasperi Sarikoski who, in spite of his young age, has performed with several esteemed jazz artists (such include Dave Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi and Peter Erskine). The rest of the group features Jere Haakana on guitar, Artturi Rönkä on piano and keyboards, Vesa Ojaniemi on bass and Jonatan Sarikoski on drums. Each member represents the crest of a newer wave of Finnish musicians, having all collaborated with leading domestic artists.
Since its founding in 2013 the band has played at many of Finland's major jazz venues, including the prestigious Tampere Jazz Happening, the Pori Jazz Festival (the country's biggest music festival) and the Turku Jazz Festival. In 2015 Kasperi Sarikoski & Nuance released its debut album Essence, which was approved by the public and critics alike. The following year the group set out on a tour which encompassed eight music venues all over Finland. The band continues to perform at domestic music venues, click here to see future show dates.
Joe Locke is widely considered to be one of the major voices of his instrument. He has performed and
recorded with a diverse range of notable musicians, including Grover Washington Jr, Kenny Barron,
Eddie Henderson, Cecil Taylor, Dianne Reeves, Ron Carter, The Beastie Boys, the Münster Symphony
Orchestra and the Lincoln, Nebraska Symphony.
Long known to be a soloist capable of stunning physical power and broad emotional range, it was not
until the last decade that he emerged as the composer, band leader and conceptualist that he is
considered today. This is in no small part due to his recent solo projects. "Four Walls of Freedom"
(Sirocco), a 6 movement suite based on the writing of the monk Thomas Merton, which he composed as
a vehicle for tenor saxophonist Bob Berg, garnered high praise from the critical community as a major
work and won several international polls. "Live in Seattle" (Origin), by The Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer
Group, won the 2006 Ear Shot award for "Concert of the Year". This group is well loved and emulated by
younger musicians looking for direction and inspiration. The overwhelming success of the quartet,
"Force of Four" (Origin), can be attributed to the talents of his young cohorts and to the leader's musical
philosophy, which is to honour tradition while keeping both feet planted in the present and future. His
2011 album, the captivating, immersive album "VIA", is the result of a reunion of Storms/Nocturnes, the
transatlantic trio with Geoffrey Keezer and Tim Garland, about which Chick Corea said " This trio is
unique, a chamber jazz form that truly sizzles with virtuosity and creativity. Tim, Geoff and Joe make an
amazing trio"
Since joining Motéma Music in 2011 Joe has released three intrinsically different albums bearing witness
of his immense stylistic versatility and ability to create artistic depth in a variety of contexts:
"Signing" is the long awaited follow-up and critically acclaimed studio album of "Live In Seattle" by The
Joe Locke / Geoffrey Keezer Group, again featuring Terreon Gully and Mike Pope. "The special hook-up
between vibraphonist Joe Locke and pianist Geoffrey Keezer is based on shared assets like chops,
listening skills and a gift for communicating the joy of making music. Locke/Keezer can make complex
material sound suave and tricky time signatures flow." (Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes).
After "Signing", the long awaited follow-up studio album of "Live In Seattle" 2012 also saw the release of
Joe Locke's first ever symphonic project, "Wish Upon A Star", featuring Locke's Quartet with Lincoln
Nebraska's Symphony Orchestra, and the Jazz radio charts #1 Blues & Ballads album "Lay Down My
Heart" in 2013.
His latest Motéma release "Love Is A Pendulum" is an arresting collection of all original music, the
centrepiece of which is a five movement suite, based on a poem by the writer and musician Barbara
Sfraga. The Spring 2015 release is already being hailed the most important work of Locke's career.
Joe Locke has won numerous awards and polls, including the 2006, 2008 and 2009 "Mallet Player of the
Year" award from the Jazz Journalists Association, and the 2013 Hot House NYC Jazz Awards for best
Vibes Player. He is active as a clinician and educator in the United States and Europe.
