“Just Friends?” Raivo Tafenau & Lauri Saatpalu 20

For Estonian music lovers, Raivo Tafenau and Lauri Saatpalu need little introduction. Tafenau is a celebrated saxophonist whose playing has reached audiences at hundreds of concerts, while Saatpalu’s unmistakable voice has carried through Dagö, Pantokraator, numerous TV and radio shows, and the theatre stage.  At Christmas Jazz, the two friends celebrate 20 years of making music together. They will be joined by a fine lineup of musicians: Joel Remmel on keyboards, Ramuel Tafenau on drums, Peedu Kass on bass, and Paul Daniel on guitar.

“The fact that we’ve been making music together for 20 years isn’t something one could have predicted – Raivo is first and foremost a jazz musician, and I’m really not,” says Lauri Saatpalu, reflecting on their long friendship. “And yet, during this time we’ve managed to record five albums with different lineups and play concerts of every scale.” For this year’s Christmas Jazz, Tafenau and Saatpalu have put together a programme that is both carefully chosen and full of surprises. As Saatpalu sums it up: “We promise you melody, rhythm, and improvisation. Come along – it will be a memorable evening. After all, good taste is something we share with our audience.”