Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

KUSTI VUORINEN

Multi-instrumentalist Kusti Vuorinen used to be the lead singer of Finnish jazz formation Suurin Onni, while also being a member of Markku Peltola’s Buster Keaton Orchestra. He made his solo debut with Molskis (2007), on which he plays almost all the instruments himself. He also likes to keep things minimalist on stage. Vuorinen is fond of traditional music and dabbles in atmospheric rhythms and lively melodies. The unpredictable Finn experiments with minimalist accordion music as well as with big band sounds. Even electronic music inspires Vuorinen.

Vuorinen’s show is a feast for the ears and eyes alike. He’ll be bringing along a visual extra, in the form of short films directed by and starring Markku Peltola, so he is in some way present after all.

JIMI TENOR MEETS FLAT EARTH SOCIETY & MAIPPI KETOLA

The extravagant and somewhat unworldly Jimi Tenor, a.k.a. Lassi Lehto, has experimented with various music genres over the years. He started his career as an electronic artist at the British Warp label, bringing him his surprise hit, Take me baby, in 1994.

Tenor soon became hungry for more and explored soul, afro beat, rock, kitsch and space jazz. Lately he has become immersed in all things big band and symphonic. Peter Vermeersch from Belgian big band Flat Earth Society also feels comfortable in various genres. Together with Flat Earth Society he makes music inspired by jazz, film scores and funk.

Etoiles Polaires has given the two artists some homework. Tenor is currently working on new material for FES, while Peter Vermeersch is writing new arrangements for several existing Tenor songs. With these two musical masterminds on stage, it promises to be an exciting evening! To top the show off, Maippi Ketola will provide projections stimulating the senses.