Finnish accordion artist Kimmo Pohjonen and French drummer Eric Echampard played their first concert as a duo in spring 2001. The duo, who form a close unit as a result of their long-standing collaboration, trust the power of improvisation and create their music spontaneously at the concert. Now, 24 years later, their enthusiasm for returning to the stage together has only grown. Much has happened since the previous tour, so we are expecting a cheerful reunion full of surprises.

Kimmo Pohjonen (born in 1964) is one of the few artists who have managed to create a genre of their own through their compositions and visionary projects. Pohjonen's ways of playing and producing new sounds out of his accordion can be considered highly exceptional at a global level. Thanks to his uniqueness, Pohjonen and his projects have made regular appearances at world music, jazz, electronic music and art music festivals around the world for the past 30 years.

Eric Echampard (born in 1970) is a French drummer whose innovative style of playing has paved the way for new drum work in the field of European jazz. Echampard, who successfully completed classical percussion studies, has always trusted his own instincts and remained open to the wide range of popular music, drawing much influence from it.

Echampard first appeared in Finland on tours with saxophonist François Corneloup and guitarist Marc Ducret in 1999–2000. That is when Kimmo Pohjonen met him and how the idea of collaborating with the French drummer came about. Pohjonen and Echampard have performed as a duo since 2001 and held about 50 concerts around Europe.

Tour production: Vapaat äänet, compagnie aime l’air

In collaboration with: Kumu drums

Duration 1 h 10 min

Kimmo Pohjonen & Eric Echampard (FR)

The event “Kimmo Pohjonen & Eric Echampard (FR)” has ended