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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
Jazz Guitar Today (USA) interview with Niklas 12/2023:
https://jazzguitartoday.com/2023/12/jazz-guitar-in-finland-and-beyond/
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)
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 2025
Look at ’ concerts ’ for a full list of upcoming and past performances.
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 9PM.
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.
16.2 PIUG Kultursal, Pargas, Finland.
With Singer Annika Cleo and guitarist Ari Stockås. Walking with Ella.
The concert starts at 5PM.
22.3 Öisu Manor, Estonia.
Originals and jazz standards at the wine and food festival.
With vibraphonist Panu Savolainen.
The concert starts at 7PM.
26-31.3 CONCERTS IN THE USA.
26.3 Steve’s Wine Bar, Denton, Texas.
With guitarist extraordinarie Mark Scott. Original compositions mixed with beloved standards.
The concert starts at 7:30PM.
https://www.steveswinebar.com/Content-Page/Events
27.3 Hearsay Wine Bar, Stephenville, Texas.
With guitarist extraordinarie Mark Scott. Original compositions mixed with beloved standards.
The concert starts at 7PM.
https://hearsaywinebar.com/events/
28.3 Riversun, San Antonio, Texas.
The Scott & Winter Quartet. Niklas Winter & Mark Scott – guitars, Derek Thigpen – bass, Josh Alderete – drums.
Original compositions mixed with beloved standards.
The Concert starts at 9:30PM.
29.3 Eastside Music School, Austin, Texas.
Winter’s masterclass at Eastside Music School. Time TBA.
29.3 ABGB, Austin, Texas.
Niklas Winter Quartet. Niklas Winter & Marc Scott – guitars, Aidan Berg – bass, Dillon Brouse – drums.
Original compositions mixed with beloved standards.
The concert starts at 9PM.
3.4 Jazz Cellar 11, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Niklas Winter Trio with Filemon von Numers – upright bass, Augustas Baronas – drums.
Original music by Winter and exciting versions of jazz standards.
https://www.vilniusjazzclub.lt
4.4 Vanha123, Porvoo, Finland.
Winter Numers Baronas Trio. With Filemon von Numers – upright bass, Augustas Baronas – drums.
Original music by Winter and exciting versions of jazz standards.
Buy tickets in advance to a special price! 13/15€.(On door 20€)The Link below:
Buy tickets in advance to a special price! 13/15€.(On door 20€)
https://www.lippu.fi/event/winter-numers-baronas-trio-vanha-123-19933580/
5.4 Telegrafen, Mariehamn, Åland.
Niklas Winter Trio with Filemon von Numers – upright bass, Augustas Baronas – drums.
Original music by Winter and selected tunes from the American songbook.
https://www.telegrafen.ax/foretag/telegrafens-vinbar/
20.4 Christiania Jazz Club, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Niklas Winter & Søren Lee Quartet. Originals mixed with smoking versions of jazz standards!
Niklas Winter & Søren Lee – guitars, Richard Andersson – bass, Mikkel Villingshøj – drums.
The concert starts at 9PM.
https://www.christianiajazzclub.com/
30.4 Telegrafen, Mariehamn, Åland.
Niklas Winter Trio with Filemon von Numers – upright bass, Okko Saastamoinen – drums.
Original music by Winter and selected tunes from the American songbook.
The concert starts at 7:30PM.
https://www.telegrafen.ax/foretag/telegrafens-vinbar/
6.5 St. Henry’s Ecumenical Art Chapel, Turku, Finland.
With flutist Mark Lotz.
Exciting new original music by Lotz and Winter.
The concert starts at 7PM.
https://www.taidekappeli.fi/in-english/
news
3/2025
Hello friends!
Winter & Lee Quartet will do some more gigs in Copenhagen in April. Please check the calendar above. We’ll also record some video and audio material. Will be fun!
I’ll do some gigs in the Baltics during the spring and looking very much forward to that. Concerts with my trio with Filemon von Numers on bass and Augustas Baronas on drums but also as a duo with vibraphone player Panu Savolainen and with flutist extraordinaire Mark Lotz from Germany.
In March (26th – 31st) I’ll visit Texas again and do a week of gigs and workshops. The concerts will be with guitarist extraordinaire Mark Scott. We’ll do both duo and quartet gigs. Looking very much forward also to the food and barbecue!!
In early May I’ll do duo gigs with German flutist extraordinaire Mark Lotz in Riga and in Liepaja and at the magnificent Art Chapel in Turku.
Beside these activities I’m working hard on a couple of albums trying to get them out to you as soon as possible!
Cheers!
Niklas