In autumn 2025, Monday Jazz Happening will celebrate its 20th anniversary. For two decades, the event series has been an important part of rhythm music culture in Turku, offering a stage for both experienced musicians and promising young musicians.

Monday Jazz Happening started in 2005 at the Monki jazz club, when Ilpo Murtojärvi, who at the time was the head of the conservatory’s pop and jazz music programme, wanted to create a space for Turku Conservatory students to jam and play together in a real restaurant setting and for a live audience, at the musician’s workplace. The event was also born out of the need to preserve the tradition of rhythm music and provide a common meeting place for musicians and audiences.

Murtojärvi led the event at Monk for nine years, after which lecturer Jusu Heinonen took over. Heinonen has continued to organise the event, first in Tiirikkala after Monk and then in Rica Bar, preserving the original spirit and developing the event further. Since autumn 2021, Jazz City Turku has been involved as a financier, helping the event with production, marketing and booking artists – and above all with raising money for the artists’ fees.

Over the years, the Monday Jazz Happening has become an important part of Turku’s cultural life. It has offered countless unforgettable musical moments and served as a springboard for many young musicians. At the heart of the event is the joy of playing together, improvisation and musical interaction.

The anniversary programme is now ready, with special concerts, surprise artists and a return to the roots of the event. Join us to celebrate 20 years of jazz, community and music!

Programme for the autumn season:

1 September Castle Street Sextet
8.9 Seppo Kitachev Quartet
15.9 Kimmo Gröhn Quartet
22.9 Veikka Kajamies Trio feat. Severi & Gunu
29 September Hahmo Gallery
6.10. Hård lag
20.10. Siina Suutarinen
27.10. Flame Jazz Club All Stars feat. Jusu Heinonen
3 November Joonatan Henriksson Quintet
10.11. Kulturama, Stockholm
17 November Jazzarella
24 November Kadi Vija 3
1.12. Hård lag
8 December Hahmogalleria
15.12. Christmas Jam: Students & teachers mingle

Monday nights of Jazz Happening are free and take place at Rica Bar (Kristinagatan 5, Turku). The band always plays the first set at 19.00, and after the concert the jam is open to everyone.