Swinging Hard Bop | Aarni Häkkinen Sextet – Riga, October 2, 2026

Swinging Hard Bop | Aarni Häkkinen Sextet – Riga, October 2, 2026

On October 2, 2026, the concert Swinging Hard Bop | Aarni Häkkinen Sextet will take place at MASA cultural bar in Riga. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. Admission for visitors will open at 7:00 p.m. Finnish trombonist, composer and conductor Aarni Häkkinen will lead an ensemble of six musicians. The programme will bring together swing and hard bop traditions with a Baltic atmosphere. The evening’s sound will be shaped by three wind instruments and a rhythm section. Listeners will experience a contemporary Nordic and Baltic jazz sensibility. The concert is expected to feature a pronounced groove. The programme will include melodic themes and blues influences. Energetic improvisations will have an important place. The musicians’ free interplay will give the evening a lively and direct character. Aarni Häkkinen will play trombone. Emīls Knubis will play alto saxophone. Jēkabs Reinis will play trumpet. Pessi Pohjola will play piano. Otso Huhtala will play double bass. Tommi Vainikainen will play drums. This concert is for listeners who want to hear the energy of hard bop performed by a small jazz ensemble. Ticket prices range from 25 to 110 euros. Swinging Hard Bop | Aarni Häkkinen Sextet will offer an evening of music in which traditional jazz language takes on a Nordic and Baltic character.

What to Expect at the Event

The sextet will create a broad instrumental sound by combining trombone, alto saxophone, trumpet, piano, double bass and drums. The concert programme centres on swing and hard bop rhythms, expressive melodies, blues moods and improvisation. The ensemble led by Aarni Häkkinen promises a dynamic dialogue between the wind instruments and the rhythm section, making the evening suitable both for experienced jazz listeners and for those who want to discover the sound of hard bop in person.

Venue and Time

The concert will take place on October 2, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. at MASA cultural bar in Riga, at 67 Elizabetes Street. Admission begins at 7:00 p.m. The expected duration of the event is approximately two hours.

Tickets

Ticket prices range from 25 to 110 euros. Admission is free for children under 12 if they do not occupy a separate seat.

Important Information for Visitors

• There is no age restriction for the event.
• The event languages are Latvian and English.
• Admission for visitors begins at 7:00 p.m., while the concert starts at 8:00 p.m.
• The venue is MASA cultural bar, 67 Elizabetes Street, Riga.
• The venue is not accessible to people with disabilities who use wheelchairs.

Why Attend

Swinging Hard Bop | Aarni Häkkinen Sextet is an opportunity to hear a joint jazz ensemble of Finnish and Latvian musicians in one evening. The concert programme promises a rhythmically powerful, melodic sound open to improvisation. This will be a suitable evening for anyone who appreciates live instrumental music, the vitality of swing and the freedom of hard bop.