Showcase-concert: UMA & Kadri Voorand in duo with Mihkel Mälgand European Jazz Conference 2021
Saturday 18. September 16:15
15.-
Fotografiska Tallinn, Vaba Lava
Members:
Initiated in early 2007, UMA is the duo project of two Estonian musicians – guitarist Robert Jürjendal and trumpet / corno da caccia player Aleksei Saks. The name UMA comes from the South Estonian Seto dialect and means “one’s own.”
Both musicians are classically trained and mix purely produced sound with live electronics, creating a meditative float somewhere between new age, ambient, electronica and the subtle, cool tones of ECM-style jazz. Besides the numerous studio projects UMA have been involved in, their musical journey also includes live performances at Tallinn Music Week, Viljandi Guitar Festival, Jazzkaar, London Jazz Festival, Matsalu Nature Film Festival, Spiegel im Spiegel festival in Moscow, a concert for the King and Queen of Sweden, hosted by the President of Estonia in Stockholm, as well as concerts in St. Petersburg, Vilnius, Brussel, Paris and Athens etc.
The duo has released four albums: Civitas Soli (2008; produced by Markus Reuter and mixed and mastered by the noted American ambient artist, Robert Rich), Hymn To Undiscovered Land (2010; produced by Andi Pupato and Andreas Vollenweider), Meeting Unknown (2012) and Peidus Pool (2013) with the outstanding classical singer Iris Oja. In 2021 UMA signed a contract with Myndstream (USA). Their new album, Wishing Well featuring the Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari is to be released in 2021.
Members:
Kadri Voorand is a charismatic singer, composer, pianist and improviser who creates music through strong emotional storytelling, combining catchy rhythms with a completely unique way of blending improvisational pop, jazz and folk elements. Having released her latest album under the legendary label ACT, Kadri has already received much acclaim both in Estonia and abroad, including Best Female Artist at the Estonian Music Awards as well as Best Jazz Album for several of her albums.
Award-winning bassist Mihkel Mälgand is among the most active jazz musicians Estonia. He has collaborated with jazz stars like Kurt Elling, Nils Landgren, Dave Liebman etc. Mälgand also appears as an arranger and occasional co-writer on the Voorand’s latest album, In Duo with Mihkel Mälgand. The pop-like melodies of this tight-knit duo are combined with virtuosic improvisations and skilled technique. They perform heart-wrenching power ballads as well as hip grooves with a unique sound and bold, unexpected lyrics.
The duo has performed in Estonia and elsewhere, including festivals such as EFG London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz, Jazz Baltica, Tampere Jazz Happening, Marburg City Festival, Südtirol Jazz Festival and Bejing Nine Gates Jazz Festival.