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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
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 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. Mostly originals and versions of John Dowlands music.
Concert starts at 7PM. Tickets 15/10€ on the door. Payment possible with cash or card.
19.11 Vuotalo, Helsinki, Finland.
Niklas Winter – guitar with John Stowell (USA) on guitar. Originals and exciting versions or John Dowlands music.
Concert starts at 6PM.
https://www.vuotalo.fi/fi/tapahtumat/?el=45&st=2024-09-27&et=2025-06-27
news
9/2024
Hi,
In August I did a recording in Spornitz, Germany with the fantastic Franz Danksagmüller on organ. The music to come out latest in 2025.
From September onwards I’ll do a series of solo, duo concerts in different locations mostly in Finland.
I’ll also do a concert in Åland with the terrific Flera Röster Choir at beautiful the Finström’s Church. The material will be my Graduale arrangements mostly from my previous album from 2023 named ’Graduale’.
In the fall my solo record will come out and also some other exciting things to be happening.
More about that later on!
Cheers,
Niklas