“The Seasons” – Marju Kuut 80 NWJO & Bianca Rantala feat. Susanna Aleksandra, Karmen Rõivassepp, Marianne Leibur, Heldur Harry Põlda

The gentle, beautiful, and effortless Tantsulaul juulis (Dance Song in July), or the playful and mischievous Oktoober (October). And throughout it all, there is that unmistakably dreamy atmosphere. Julie London’s 1956 album Calendar Girl and its 1969 Estonian adaptation, Aastaajad (The Seasons), made Marju Kuut a star on the Estonian music scene. At Christmas Jazz, this legendary album will be given a fresh interpretation by composer and arranger Bianca Rantala, who will take to the stage alongside the New Wind Jazz Orchestra, Susanna Aleksandra, Marianne Leibur, Karmen Rõivassepp and Heldur Harry Põlda to present a contemporary vision of an undisputed classic of Estonian jazz. Join us in celebrating Marju Kuut’s 80th and Julie London’s 100th anniversaries, as these timeless songs sound fresh once again.

Marju Marynel Kuut (1946–2022) was one of the most important singers and musicians in the history of Estonian pop and jazz. Her contribution extended far beyond music: her artistry and courage to stand out helped shape Estonia’s cultural landscape in the 20th century. Her debut album Aastaajad was created in collaboration with conductor and clarinettist Aleksander Rjabov, who arranged the music for the Latvian Radio Light Music Orchestra and conducted the ensemble during the recording. The album was based on the music of Julie London’s Calendar Girl, with brilliant new Estonian lyrics by Heldur Karmo capturing the mood of each month of the year. The original songs were penned by a host of renowned songwriters, including Ben Webster, Burt Bacharach and Bob Russell.

Award-winning composer, conductor and vocalist Bianca Rantala has written works and hundreds of arrangements for ensembles ranging from choirs to symphony orchestras, while also performing as a bandleader and singer in Estonia and internationally. She was named Jazz Composer of the Year 2025 at the Estonian Jazz Awards and has also won, among others, the Nordic Composer Competition and the Baltic Big Band Composition Competition. This year, Bianca was selected as composer-in-residence with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.

The story of Aastaajad now comes full circle: concert soloist Susanna Aleksandra Veldi is Aleksander Rjabov’s granddaughter. Together with a new generation of Estonian jazz singers and musicians, Veldi revisits this classic of Estonian music from a fresh perspective.