12.2.2009 Project Arts Centre, East Essex St, Temple Bar, Dublin

Image: Aki Rissanen

From Wed 11th to Sat 14th February, young musicians from Finland, Holland, Norway, Denmark, France, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain and The UK will be providing a stylistically diverse line up at Dublin's 12 Points! Festival. The artists are embracing new technology, collaborating in other artistic spheres and proving new European jazz is anything but homogenous.

Aki Rissanen is the Finnish lone solo performer at 12 Points! 09. Rissanen is about to conclude his masters at The Sibelius Academy. He is also working with Finland's UMO Jazz Orchestra, performing with players of the stature of Daniel Humair and Barry Guy, and leading several bands with peers from around Europe.

2008 saw the release of La LumiereNoire, a revelatory first solo recording that has elicited the highest praise in Finland. With a focussed intensity and formidable prowess across all parts of the instrument, Rissanen draws from diverse sources that also reflect his background in classical piano, and he wears the demands of this higher expression of the jazz art lightly.

‘A four day event hot wired into the changing dynamic of the contemporary European jazz scene.' The Observer

‘12 points has placed Dublin at the centre of European jazz. It is now the place to check out the very best emerging young talent from across the continent.' Jazzwise

Performance: Thursday 12th February 9 pm

More information:
www.12points.ie