Korpo Sea Jazz, Still Going Strong

2.5.2025

Korpo Sea Jazz is a festival focusing on jazz, played by Finnish, professional jazz musicians. I have often discussed with my fellow organizers of the festival, what is the meaning of this concept, Finnish, professional jazz musician, to each one. The most severe definition would be “a freelance musician who has graduated from the Jazz Department of Sibelius-Academy with not less than a Master’s degree and who has no other income than from playing jazz”. It is understandable for most of us, though, that one must have other sources of income as well. In this case the additional income should also come from music, from teaching or playing even in a rock band.

However, it is a fact that the education in the many conservatories of our country, in addition to Sibelius-Academy, holds a very high standard and we have really not been asking for papers or diplomas from musicians coming to Korpo!

I am taking my exit from the duties and tasks of Korpo Sea Jazz towards the background. As I am leaving the position of the Chair of the Board of the Korpo Jazz rf. society, I have been given as a goodbye-present the honorary duty as the artistical director of Korpo Sea Jazz 2025 festival. If there had been sufficient funds, I would have created a two weeks’ festival but our situation is, in a way, the opposite. When planning the program, I took hold of this question about professional musicianship as well as our views towards the future. For this reason, I have invited students from the Youth Department of Sibelius-Academy to play on the festival. I am happy about being able, with this small gesture, to leave my trace into the history of Korpo Sea Jazz festival and thus to demonstrate my belief in the high-class future of Finnish jazz.

I am leaving the producing of Korpo Sea Jazz festival into good hands as Mikko Kostiainen, who has served the Board of Korpo Jazz rf. as a member for many years and been a tireless jack-of-all-trades in the organizing of a number of festivals, has taken the responsibility of producing the festivals in future. This year’s festival we have still produced together. I am also convinced, that in autumn a competent person will be elected Chair of the Board of Korpo Jazz rf. and take control over the administration of the society.

Thanks to the Family of Långbacka, who understood in 1989 to start jazz activity in Korpo.
Thanks to all members of the Board of the society for the rewarding discussions between 2004 and 2025.
Thank you, all voluntary workers and helpers, an unbelievably tough bunch!
Thanks for the cooperation, all Korpo Sea Jazz artistic directors between 2010 and 2024. It has been the best I know to plan the festival programs with you.
Thank you, all you 463 musicians, whom I have had the privilege to book on the festival. You are magnificent!
Thank you, the best audience in the World! I am planning to melt into you now!

Bosse Mellberg