Poetic Ways,
Toomas Keski-Säntti Quartet

Poetic Ways

Jazz is admittedly all about whom you meet. But it also a question of surprise, being left speechless, play and poetry. The quintet “Poetic Ways” is a trial, transformed during a first impromptu concert improvised live on France Musique radio in November 2021 for the bicentenary of the Conservatoire Pierre Barbizet in Marseille.

At the outset, it was a simple bet on a surprise or expectation: that the voices of Celia Kameni, Anne Paceo, Raphaël Imbert, Pierre-François Blanchard and Pierre Fenichel would work for a new attractive and poetical adventure of sound! A successful gamble thanks to the magic of the moment captured on air, the feedback from listeners surprised to hear Fauré, Ferré, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Nina Simone in one same echo filled with groove and emotions. The gamble should clearly be taken again! A new creation, a new surprise, not to be missed.

Celia Kameni, vocals (FR)
Raphaël Imbert, saxophone (FR)
Pierre-François Blanchard, piano (FR)
Pierre Fénichel, double bazz (FR)
Pierre-François Dufour, drums (FR)

Photo: Paul Bourdrel

Toomas Keski-Säntti Quartet

The debut album release concert of the international quartet led by pianist Toomas Keski-Säntti! One of Finland’s most acclaimed jazz improvisers, Toomas Keski-Säntti (b. 1995) is a pianist and composer based in Helsinki. He became first known as a member of a Finnish jazz group OK:KO, and is today one of the most sought-after piano players in the Finnish jazz scene. He plays regularly with Jukka Perko, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Adele Sauros Quartet, Joonas Tuuri Quartet, and Selma Savolainen Horror Vacui.

While constantly exploring new musical territories through composition and improvisation, Keski-Säntti’s musical roots lay strongly in the jazz tradition, and his virtuosic touch on the piano has earned him a reputation as an exceptionally lyrical player. After graduating with a Master of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy, he continued his studies in New York at the renowned Manhattan School of Music in 2022-2023.

Keski-Säntti has composed and arranged the music for his upcoming debut album for a quartet he assembled in New York.

This album release concert will feature drummer Jonas Esser and double bassist Simón Willson, both based in New York, and trumpeter Tomi Nikku, a familiar figure from the Finnish jazz scene.

Toomas Keski-Säntti, piano
Tomi Nikku, trumpet
Simón Willson, double bass (CL)
Jonas Esser, drums (DE)

7:30pm doors
8pm Poetic Ways
approx. 9:15pm intermission
approx. 9:45pm Toomas Keski-Säntti Quartet

Tickets 26/22 € + order fee (from 1,50 € + 0,65% of the order), Lippu.fi.
Duration approx. 3h with intermission

Preorder food and drinks from Café Molli using the online preorder form, by phone +358 41 3172025 or email myynti@cafemolli.fi.

Louhi Hall, Espoo Cultural Centre
Kulttuuriaukio 2, 02100 Espoo (Google Maps / HSL Journey Planner)