Kirke Karja presents her latest project, created especially for Jazzkaar 2026, at Fotografiska. Inspired by Ancient Greek mythology and Lennart Meri’s Hõbevalge (Silverwhite), the quartet, featuring musicians from Estonia, Italy, and Denmark, delivers a compelling and thought-provoking performance.
I was left with many thoughts after attending the concert. At times, it felt slightly uncomfortable to listen to music without a concrete rhythm or steady “beat.” Yet, in another sense, it was unique and made me reflect on what jazz truly is. Throughout the performance, I often wondered how the musicians knew when to play and how everything was coordinated. It seemed fully improvised, yet they all appeared to understand exactly what they were doing and when to enter. The question that stayed with me was: is it pure improvisation, or is it strictly composed to sound this way? This led me to another thought: is there a “rule” for how music is supposed to sound? As listeners, we are used to structures and patterns; when those boundaries are pushed, we feel uneasy and instinctively want to return to familiar sounds—even while craving something entirely new. This internal conflict was fascinating to experience.
The music fit the theme perfectly, evoking a sense of questioning and uncertainty. It had me pondering questions like, “Where do Estonians come from?” and “What is our purpose in this world?”
I truly believe it is much more challenging to perform music that is so expressive and not fully “rehearsed,” relying instead on improvisation. It highlights just how talented these musicians are. While it wasn’t entirely to my taste, that’s perfectly okay. I feel that with a deeper understanding of the context and more focused listening, the experience would reveal even more layers, becoming increasingly meaningful and coherent.
Kirke Karja “Odüsseia” feat. Annabel Soode & Raw Fish (Estonia-Denmark-Italy)
Friday, 1st of May, Fotografiska
The band:
Kirke Karja – piano
Annabel Soode – vocal
Teis Semey – guitar
Giovanni Iacovella – drums
Foto – Rene Jakobson