Interesting programming for this last day of the Tampere Jazz Happening, all women-led ensembles. Skip to the end of this post for my rambling thoughts about that, but in the meantime, next stop the Pakkahuone hall… Life and Other Transient Storms Susana Santos Silva – trumpet, flugelhorn Lotte Anker – saxophones Sten Sandell – piano…

Okay, first, the apologies… I apologise to the Saturday evening concerts in the Pakkahuone and Klubi: Papanosh & Roy Nathanson & Fidel Fourneyron; Colin Stetson & Sarah Neufeld; Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion; and Magnetic Ensemble. All great musicians but after a ‘Thinging’ afternoon, I found myself drawn to the Telakka bar and the Finnish musicians…

Three concerts, all featuring a member of Viking power jazz trio, The Thing. Each one doing their own… well, thing. Mats Gustafsson – saxophones Mats Gustafsson. Standing alone on a big stage. Facing a big audience. Tarnished weapon of choice hanging around his neck. We should probably feel fear, or at least trepidation; instead, it’s…

The Tampere Jazz Happening – after six years away, it’s good to be back. This 34th edition (I remember the 23rd, does that make me old? – don’t answer that!) is yet another wild and varied mix of international ‘names’ and some of the best of Finnish music-making. Thursday night’s Young Nordic Jazz Comets was…