home
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@abovoice/videos
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 50 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 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)
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 2024
Look at ’ concerts ’ for a full list of upcoming and past performances.
12.9 Raision Martinsali, Raisio, Finland.
Niklas Winter with guitarist Lassi Friman. Concert starts at 7PM.
Original compositions with fresh jazz standards. Tickets on the door (both cash or by card) or in advance by lippu.fi. The link below takes you directly to the ticket shop.
https://www.eventim-light.com/fi/a/664cb35a75404221ed20b8a6/e/66d1ee1c21296948ec628a90
4.10 Zakeus vinbar Telegrafen, Mariehamn, Åland.
The gig starts at 7:30PM.
With Fredrik Erlandsson on trumpet and bass. Jazz standards!
6.10 Finströms kyrka, Åland.
Concert starts at 4PM.
Niklas Winters original Graduale arrangements with the Flera Röster choir and a jazz trio consisting of guitar, trumpet and cello. Niklas Winter – guitar and arrangements, Fredrik Erlandsson – trumpet, Andreas Karlsson – cello.
https://www.norraalandsforsamling.ax/kyrkor-och-lokaler/finstroms-kyrka
19.10 Makasiini Contemporary, Turku, Finland.
Concert starts at 2PM.
Niklas Winter – guitar. Winter’s originals and his arrangements of John Dowlands music and much more!
Tickets 15€ on the door. You can pay with cash or card. Welcome!
https://makasiinicontemporary.com/
23.10 Nagu bibliotek, Nagu, Finland.
Niklas Winter – guitar. Winter’s arrangements of Dowland’s music and music inspired from Bo Carpelans book; År Som Löv. Concert starts at 6PM.
https://registret.biblioteken.fi/pargas/nagu-bibliotek
18.11 Turun Ekumeeninen taidekappeli, Turku, Finland.
With John Stowell (USA) on guitar. Originals and exciting versions of John Dowlands music.
Concert starts at 7PM. Tickets 15/10€ on the door. Payment possible with cash or card. Tickets in advance cheaper 9/14€ if you buy them ahead from lippu.fi. The link below:
https://www.lippu.fi/eventseries/name-3761430
19.11 Vuotalo, Helsinki, Finland.
Niklas Winter – guitar with John Stowell (USA) on guitar. Originals and exciting versions or John Dowlands music plus a couple of jazz standards.
Concert starts at 6PM. Tickets on the door or in advance from lippu.fi. The link below:
https://www.vuotalo.fi/fi/tapahtumat/?el=45&st=2024-09-27&et=2025-06-27
21.12 Mikaelinkirkko, Turku, Finland.
Duo with vibraphonist Severi Pyysalo. The Christmas concert starts at 4:30PM.
https://www.turunseurakunnat.fi/kirkot-ja-kappelit/mikaelinkirkko
2025
8.1 Logomo, Teatro, Turku, Finland.
Duo with bassist extraordinaire Antti Lötjönen. The concert starts 17:00. Free entrance.
The concert is arranged by Jazzcityturku.
https://logomo.fi/ravintolat/teatro
29.1 Christiania Jazz Club, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Niklas Winter & Søren Lee Quartet. Originals mixed with some hot versions of standards.
Niklas Winter & Søren Lee – guitars, Richard Andersson – bass, Mikkel Villingshøj – drums.
The concert starts at 10PM.
https://www.christianiajazzclub.com/
31.1 Sibeliusmuseum, Turku, Finland.
Niklas Winter with danish guitarist extraordinaire Søren Lee.
Originals mixed with some hot versions of standards.
The concert starts at 7PM.
1.2 Vanha123, Porvoo, Finland.
Niklas Winter with danish guitarist extraordinaire Søren Lee. Originals mixed with some hot versions of standards.
Niklas Winter & Søren Lee – guitars, Filemon von Numers – bass, Okko Saastamoinen – drums.
The concert starts at 7PM. Tickets 12/14€ from lippu.fi, or the door 15€.
https://www.lippu.fi/event/niklas-winter-soren-lee-quartet-vanha-123-19669032/
2.2 Tenho Restobar, Sunjazz, Helsinki, Finland.
Niklas Winter with danish guitarist extraordinaire Søren Lee. Originals mixed with some hot versions of standards.
Niklas Winter & Søren Lee – guitars, Filemon von Numers – bass, Okko Saastamoinen – drums.
The concert starts at 7PM.
news
12/2024
Hello dear friends,
This year is soon ending and a new one starts with cool new projects.
In the end of this year I’ll do one concert with my old buddy (and master vibraphone player) Severi Pyysalo on the 21st of December here in Turku at the Mikaelin kirkko. We will improvise around familiar Christmas tunes.
On January the 8th I will do a duo gig with bassist Antti Lötjönen at Teatro in Turku and we’ll play mostly my compositions spiced up with a couple of compositions from the American song book.
In the end of January-early February I’ll do a short tour with Niklas Winter & Søren Lee Quartet in Finland and Denmark. You’ll find the dates and name of venues above.
Beside these activities I’m working hard on a couple of albums trying to get them out to you as soon as possible.
Hope to see you in the concerts and Merry Christmas to all of you!
Niklas