English summary

Bygga Big Band is a Helsinki based jazz orchestra with both traditional and modern big band repertoire. The band has occasionally offered its audience Finnish premieres of recent American top jazz pieces. Bygga Big Band has also accompanied famous Finnish soloists like our celebrated jazz vocalist Johanna Iivanainen. The band features both experienced faces of the Finnish jazz scene and new talents found via the band’s connections to the top Finnish music institutes. Since 2001 Bygga Big Band is conducted by Ari Jokelainen, one of the Finnish award-winning musicians and saxophone players.

Bygga Big Band was founded by members of the wind instrument orchestra of Helsinki Workers’ Association in 1954. The band was named after its “residence”, Bygga (a nickname for the massive stone built workers’house in Helsinki). The band has traditionally had professional and recognised conductors and a sense and ambition also for artistically rewarding jazz repertoire.

For further information and samples please contact info@byggabigband.com.