Home » Jazz Musicians » New Orleans Helsinki Connection

New Orleans Helsinki Connection

New Orleans Helsinki Connection is a group of New Orleans and Helsinki based musicians that play traditional New Orleans jazz with a youthful 21st century touch. Its members represent the very best of this style in their homelands and have been playing together in various bands for years.

In the summer of 2002, a long time dream of a joint band finally became reality. The band had a successful three-week tour in Finland. In the fall of 2003, New Orleans Helsinki Connection headed in to the studio, and the new, aptly titled CD "At Last" came out in April 2004.

Since then, the NOHC has been often heard on the WWOZ jazz station (also live from Satchmo Fest 2008) and the CD is available again after being out of print for some time. In August 2004, the NOHC performed very successfully at Sildajazz Festival in Haugesund, Norway, at Lahden Jazztori Festival in Lahti, Finland and at Storyville Jazz Club in Helsinki, Finland. The band has been seen in New Orleans for example at the French Quarter Festival (2005-2007), Satchmo Fest (2008), Columns Hotel, National Historical Park, and at Donna's Bar & Grill.

The band includes the following musicians:
Tricia Boutté, vocals
Leroy Jones, trumpet and vocals
Katja Toivola, trombone
Todd Duke, guitar
Paul Longstreth, piano
Nobu Ozaki, bass
Thomas Rönnholm, drums

Connection's program consist mainly of New Orleans jazz classics like "Shake It And Break It" and "Palm Court Strut" but also includes gospel and blues numbers, jazz standards, and original compositions.

Tags

1

Performance / Tour

New Orleans Helsinki Connection - Together Again: At Last!

New Orleans Helsinki Connection - Together Again: At Last!

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions

This April will be the first time in years that New Orleans Helsinki Connection's original lineup, featured on the band's debut album “At Last," is playing together. The all star band was first conceived in the summer of 2001 when Tricia Boutté, Katja Toivola, and Thomas Rönnholm were on a lengthy tour in Finland. One night, the troika got together, pondering the subject of how nice it would be to have a band consisting of friends who can play. “We ...

29

Recording

New Orleans Helsinki Connection Releases New Album Paradise On Earth

New Orleans Helsinki Connection Releases New Album Paradise On Earth

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions

It’s been eight years since their debut album At Last and now; another collaboration from this diverse ensemble once again ferrying jazz lovers to a better understanding of musical intimacy. Along with a fresh set of titles, the band’s lineup is also slightly augmented on this new, captivating recording. Finnish based drummer and co-founder of the group, Thomas Rönnholm, doesn’t appear amongst the personnel this time. But co-founder, bandleader, trombonist Katja Toivola is an irrefutable force along with vocalist Tricia ...

98

Award / Grant

New Orleans Helsinki Connection Awarded a Grant by the Threadhead Records Foundation

New Orleans Helsinki Connection Awarded a Grant by the Threadhead Records Foundation

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions

Jazz ensemble New Orleans Helsinki Connection is one of Threadhead Records Foundation's 2010 grants recipients. The grant was awarded for the completion of group's new recording project, “Love Song For New Orleans." The Threadhead Records Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 that operates out of Santa Monica, CA. It's predecessor and affiliate, volunteer-run and fan-funded Threadhead Records (THR) was founded in 2007 to help musicians struggling with the aftermath of the 2005 levee failures. Threadhead Records and Threadhead Records Foundation have ...

240

Performance / Tour

New Orleans Helsinki Connection Performs at the 40th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

New Orleans Helsinki Connection Performs at the 40th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Source: Spirit Of New Orleans Productions

The New Orleans, LA and Helsinki, Finland based group “New Orleans Helsinki Connection" will perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2, 2009 under the leadership of trombonist Katja Toivola.

One of the biggest jazz festivals in the United States, the esteemed NOJHF will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The seven-day, two-weekend event gathers an estimated 650.000 music fans each year to enjoy the music played on 12 stages.

In addition to the NOHC, ...

Things said about "At Last":

"-- the players communicate like longtime friends throughout. Their Connection is strong." Keith Spera, The Times Picayune 30/4/2004

"-- a nice meeting of friends that should please their many fans on both sides of the pond." Geraldine Wyckoff, OffBeat 5/2004

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

At Last

SONOP - Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
2004

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.