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Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@abovoice
Spotify artist page: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7z8P55fksPikrpZlDkmqdo?si=0YRIpPs1SumtQ6SX4zrBSQ
Record label: https://www.abovoice.com
ABOUT
Niklas Winter is a Finnish jazz guitarist and composer. Winter has made 9 records as a leader and has been active as a sideman in several bands. He tours frequently the world making around 60 concerts per year in the Nordic countries and in Europe, Asia and the US.
During the years Winter has performed with; Kenny Wheeler, Henry Lowther, Ulf Wakenius, Jesse van Ruller, John Stowell, Kirite Kanawa, Cameron Brown, Ted Curson, Lars Jansson, Jukkis Uotila, Teemu Viinikainen, Karl-Martin Almqvist, Fumio Yasuda, Ino Nobuyoshi, Jani Moder, Morten Lund, Emil Hess, Jesper Bodilsen, Severi Pyysalo and many more.
Winter’s passion is writing and performing original music.
”The result is an entirely successful run of fourteen very different tracks that hang together to provide an overall aesthetic that is both meditative and swinging.” Phil Johnson on the Graduale album, London Jazz News, 2023 (UK)
Nyt on vanha kunnon albumikokonaisuuden idea on kunniassaan. Toki minkä tahansa kappaleen voi halutessaan irrottaa erilliskuunteluun, mutta parempi ratkaisu on kunnioittaa huolella laadittua kokonaisuutta, kuunnella musiikki juuri niin kuin on tarkoitettu, pienistä osasista yhtenäiseksi kasvavana taideteoksena. Pentti Ronkanen / Suomijazz 11/2023 (Finland)
Det gjør vi like godt med et høyst unikt musikalsk konsept der Winter fusjonerer sin egen musikk for jazzkvartett og solo med finsk middelalder-kormusikk. Spesielt? Definitivt. Vakkert? Avgjort.
Tor Hammerö on the Graduale album / Nettavisen 2023 (Norway)
Winter has a fresh, modern sound. This is original and very exciting music and Niklas Winter Quartet has surely been a great experience at many festivals. Tor Hammerø /Jazznyt (Norway)
‘Missä hyvänsä Niklas Winter soittaa, hänen herkästi kaipailevan kitaransa tunnistaa. Winter tuntuu etsivän käsitteiksi taipumatonta, jotain vielä ja ehkä pysyvästi näkymätöntä. Soundi on ollut samanlainen vuosia. Kari Salminen / Turun Sanomat (2.9.2022)
Niklas Winter’s poetic playing shows great knowledge of improvisational skills. Jörgen Östberg /Orkester Journalen (Sweden)
” In Winter’s playing listener can hear plainness and intelligence. Winter’s improvisations and harmonies look back to the history of jazz but also expresses the atmosphere of today.”Hiroki Sugita/Jazz Life (Japan)
Trust in fact, was key, as was a fundamental sense of good time. Without a drummer or a bassist, and with the two guitarists sometimes dissolving into spare sections where time was, at best, suggested, it became even more essential that the two could internalize that time and know where it was, without it being explicitly there. It’s in the context of the duo that an artist is at his/her most exposed; not only are their abilities, instincts and improvisational élan laid bare, but their communication skills—or lack thereof—are impossible to disguise. Viinikainen and Winter needn’t have worried, as it was clear, from their Tampere Jazz Happening performance, that this was a duo communicating at a very deep level, playing relatively quiet music that was, nevertheless, thoroughly captivating.
JOHN
KELMAN / ALL ABOUT JAZZ (USA)
NEW ALBUM!
Niklas Winter GRADUALE
The album consists of Winter original compositions combined with his arrangements of the oldest written music in Finland.
Henry Lowther – trumpet and fluegelhorn, Niklas Winter – guitar, Severi Pyysalo – vibraphone, Juho Laitinen – cello, Utopia Chamber Choir.
The link below takes you to the Finnish record label Abovoice. Buy this album and albums of many other Finnish jazz musicians on this site.
UPCOMING CONCERTS 2023
Look at ’ concerts ’ for a full list of upcoming and past performances.
25.2 Makasiini Contemporary, Turku, Finland.
Solo concert ’Solstice’ presenting old and new stuff plus improvisations.
26.5 Makasiini Contemporary, Turku, Finland.
Concert with Danny Webber(USA) – guitar.
https://makasiinicontemporary.com
8.6 Kallion Kirkko, Helsinki, Finland.
Niklas Winter Graduale.
Niklas Winter -guitar / Henry Lowther – trumpet / Eclectic Voices choir from London, director Scott Scott Stroman.
https://www.helsinginseurakunnat.fi/kallionkirkko.html.stx
9.6 Turun tuomiokirkko, Turku, Finland.
Niklas Winter Graduale.
Niklas Winter -guitar / Henry Lowther – trumpet / Eclectic Voices choir from London, director Scott Stroman.
https://www.turuntuomiokirkko.fi/
12.6 Pargas hembygdsmuseum, Pargas, Finland.
Hank Williams under skärgårdshimlen.
https://www.pargashembygdsmuseum.fi/in_english/
13.6 Taidekappeli, Turku, Finland.
Niklas Winter – solo.
news
2/2024
Hello!
The Spring will be a busy one with writing new music and doing some new recordings.
I’m now working on my new album that will come out in the fall 2024 consisting mainly of jazz quartet stuff. A kind of return to the more ’normal’ jazz environment:)
I’m also working on my solo guitar material during the winter. At this point doing some solo guitar concerts were I’m trying out different ideas.
Concerts will be added shortly so please check out this calendar soon again.
I hope to see you on the gigs!
Cheers,
Niklas