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The KV Stuudio Archive brings together a selection of past concerts, festivals, international collaborative projects and productions in Estonia and around the world.
The archive is gradually being expanded with photographs, posters, videos, press materials and links to original sources.
2026
The Mystery of Wind - Villu Veski Solo Concert at Hatu Manor
11. October Hatu Manor Porikuu Festival
THE MYSTERY OF WIND
Villu Veski – Solo Concert at Hatu Manor
On the second Sunday of October, the sounds of Villu Veski’s saxophone will fill the halls of Hatu Manor.
Villu Veski – tenor and soprano saxophones,
tuuleton, electronics, percussion and visuals.
Tuuleton is a new musical instrument that Villu Veski is creating especially for this concert at Hatu Manor.
Last spring, in Mexico, at the foot of the temple of the Maya wind god K’UUB, new music inspired by the wind began to take shape.
For the ancient Maya, wind symbolized life and the soul. For the saxophone, however, wind is an even more immediate necessity: without breath, not a single note can be born.
The Estonian relationship with wind is perhaps a harsher one. For us, wind is often what blows into our faces, swirls autumn leaves and whistles through the windows of old manor houses. Yet it is this very same wind that carries life and sets everything in motion.
The Mystery of Wind
brings these three perspectives together: the ancient wind imagery of Mexico, the breath that gives the saxophone its voice, and the familiar autumn winds of Estonia.
Villu Veski creates a musical bridge between them, where improvisation, rhythm and sound merge into one flowing whole.
Ancient and Contemporary
Villu Veski’s music increasingly brings together Nordic traditions and the ancient musical languages of different cultures around the world.
One of his most recent international collaborations is Nordic Ballads with the Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra — a project in which ancient Nordic ballads, the improvisational freedom of jazz and the primal rhythms of shamanic drums come together to create a new musical language.
In 2026, the project has reached several international stages and attracted attention in the international jazz press.
Writing in All About Jazz, Nenad Georgievski described Nordic Ballads as more than a concert programme — a conscious act of cultural revival, bringing ancient stories back to life with a modern sensibility.
In this spirit, Villu Veski’s music could also be described in the words of Estonian poet Kristiina Ehin:
“Villu’s music is so ancient, yet at the same time so contemporary.”
— Kristiina Ehin
11 October 2026 at 15:00
Hatu Manor, Estonia
FREE ADMISSION — Advance registration required.
Seating is limited.
The concert takes place as part of the Porikuu Festival within the project
“Organising Community Events in 2026”, co-funded by the European Union.
Registration: Hatu Manor events
Villu Veski & Tiit Kalluste NordicSounds
October 1st 2026 Rahvusvahelise Muusikapäev
Villu Veski - saxophone / Tiit Kalluste - accordeon
International Music Day Concerts
1st October Vastseliina Gümnaasium
1st October Põlva Kooli Keskmaja
Sunset Concert – Villu Veski & Friends: Karoli Veski / Yvetta Uustalu
28 August 2026 · Käsmu Maritime Museum, Estonia
Villu Veski “Nordic Jazz & Storytelling” — Music, the Sea and the Setting Sun in Käsmu
28. August 2026 · Käsmu Maritime Museum Beach, Estonia
One evening. One sunset. Music created here and now.
Musician: Villu Veski — saxophones, electronics, spoken word
Visuals: The setting sun over the shores of Käsmu
Guest musicians: A traditional surprise, revealed only to the audience on the night of the concert.
“Nordic Jazz & Storytelling by Villu Veski” is a name that captures the musician’s creative and geographical journey — Nordic jazz, ancient stories and ballads, improvisation, and musical travels to different corners of the world.
On the eve of Estonia’s Night of Ancient Lights, Villu Veski once again invites the audience to the shores of Käsmu. On 28 August at 8:00 PM, music and nature come together on one of the most picturesque stages along Estonia’s northern coastline.
And this time, there is more on stage than music alone. The concert begins while daylight still lingers over the sea, with the sun setting at 8:36 PM. The music unfolds alongside the changing evening light — until the lights lit along the shore and the sun descending into the sea create a world of their own.Which of Villu’s friends will join him on stage remains a surprise for those who come to experience the evening. Only the musicians, the sea, the setting sun, and the lights along the shore know the answer.
One thing is certain — this evening will be truly one of a kind!
Nordic Ballads & Satro Shaman Drum Orchestra (FO/DK/EST)
31. July 2026, OY Brewing, 4 Falkavegur, Tórshavn 100, Føroyar. Summartonar Festival 2026
Nordic Ballads & Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra
Katrina Petersen (vocals), Andreas Ugorskij (guitar), Villu Veski (sax), Raun Juurikas (keys) & Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra led by av Arno Kalbus
Experience an atmospheric live concert at OY, where singer Katrina Petersen, with Faroese and Danish roots, interprets ballads inspired by Nordic myths and sagas. The repertoire includes her own compositions and traditional Nordic songs.
Katrina is accompanied by Danish guitarist Andreas Ugorskij, Estonian musicians Villu Veski on saxophone and Raun Juurikas on keyboard, as well as the powerful multi-member orchestra, unique in the world, Šatro Shaman Drum Orchestra.
An intense musical experience that unites the voices, rhythms and mythical tales of the Nordics.
Villu Veski & Katrina Petersen „Nordic Ballads” feat. Šatro Shaman Drums Orchestra (Estonia–Denmark)
28.04. 2026 · Fotografiska JAZZKAAR
Villu Veski - saxophone
Katrina Petersen - vocal
Andreas Ugorskij - guitar
Raun Juurikas - piano & keyboards
Arno Kalbus & Šatro Shaman Drums Orchestra
Jazzkaar will present Nordic Ballads, the latest project by master instrumentalist and versatile composer Villu Veski. The music inspired by ancient Nordic myths and sagas is performed by singer Katrina Petersen, whose roots lie in the Faroe Islands and Denmark, alongside Danish guitarist Andreas Ugorskij, keyboardist Raun Juurikas, and Villu Veski himself. The ballads are performed primarily in Faroese, with additional songs in Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Icelandic. Adding an extra layer of primal power to the already rich programme are musicians from the drum ensemble Šatro.
JAN GUNNAR HOFF I VILLU VESKI New duo album "SAGA" presentation concert tour in Norway:
17.03. 2026 Steinway Hall, Oslo, Norway
18.03. 2026 Kvernes Stave Church, Averøy, Norway
19.03. 2026. Molde Cathedral, Molde, Norway
Norwegian jazz pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff and Estonian saxophonist Villu Veski first met in Northern Norway in 2023. In 2025 they recorded a first duo album in the spectacular Arvo Pärt Centre in Estonia. The centre is located in the coastal village of Laulasmaa in Lääne-Harju Parish, Estonia, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the west from Tallinn. It was established in 2010 by the Pärt family. Hoff and Veski have recorded original works by both composers.
2025
"Kunst kõlab / Art sounds" NORDIC BALLADS
04.04. 2025 Niguliste Museum, Tallinn
Katrina Petersen (Faroe Islands/Denmark) – vocal
Andreas Christiansen Ugorskij (Denmark) – guitar
Villu Veski (Estonia) – saxophones, percussions
Raun Juurikas (Estonia) – keyboards, electronics
Light: Petri Parrik
Sound: Alo Jaanivald
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VILLU VESKI / TIIT KALLUSTE / TAAVO REMMEL
22.02.2025 Arvo Pärt Centre
Villu Veski- saxophones, Tiit Kalluste - accordion, Taavo Remmel - double bass
Veski’s and Kalluste’s first love in music, however, was American jazz. The later change in their aesthetic perspective, and a substantial one at that, was triggered by the twosome’s first journey to the Faroe Islands in 1997.The inspiration of the natural surroundings and musical sounds seen and heard on the Faroes proved so fresh and invigorating that it led to subsequent recording sessions of Veski and Kalluste. Inspired by the Faroe Islands' crisp and scarce nature, NordicSounds has released 3 albums. Their first album, released in 1998, turned out to be extremely successful, in Estonia and beyond.
In the cover letter to their first album the President of the Republic of Estonia Mr. Lennart Meri wrote: “The Baltic Sea, with the indeterminable coastline of its lands and islands, is our Mediterranean of the North...Here you have two Estonian men, who have plucked notes from the Nordic islands, and have transformed them for us into today’s world. Here is one way to capture the tunes of the Nordic Mediterranean”. The album was considered by audience in Estonia as the second best after Arvo Pärt.
The duo’s NordicSounds’ programme of folksongs and compositions, “Sounds of the Nordic
Islands” displays the elegiac beauty of Scandinavian folk music in a combination of up-to date and ancient styles. The musicians: “It’s like a musical travel report from the Nordic Islands, inspired by nature, folk music, legends and myths.”
Last summer, the musicians traveled and gave concerts in the Sámi areas of Norway, Givaer Island, the Fleinvaer Archipelago, and the Faroe Islands with musicians from Norway and the Faroe Islands.
The Veski-Kalluste-Remmel saxophone-accordion-double bass trio has shared their music and traveled far from home with this program: Concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Hall, the Varna Summer Jazz Festival in Bulgaria, the Vienna Town Hall, the Porgy & Bess Jazz Club, a concert recording for the Bratislava Radio EBU, a concert tour to Mexico, Finland, Germany, and the Baltic States are just a few examples of the musicians’ more than 30 years of collaboration and stage experience. The trio will be giving a concert for the first time in the beautiful hall of the Arvo Pärt Center.
2024
OLA ONABULE ( UK ) + VILLU VESKI + Estonian Television Girls Choir conductor Aarne Saluveer
December 20th 2024 Kaarli Church, Tallinn
British singer - songwriter Ola Onabule's collaboration with Villu Veski and the ETV Girls' Choir led by Aarne Saluveer began in 2012, when they gave a concert together in Kaarli Church. The concert was also recorded by Estonian television.
https://arhiiv.err.ee/video/vaata/jazziauhind-2012-villu-veski-54953
This concert recording was later broadcast by the US TV channel PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) under the title "Christmas Music from Estonia". Ola Onabule' s more than ten years of cooperation with Veski has taken them to many festivals around the world: Istanbul Jazz Festival, Burghausen Jazztage, Lagos Jazz Series, International Jazz Day RO and others. Together with the ETV Girls' Choir, the concert was given at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London South Bank Center Choral Festival.
At first glance, Ola appears to be a charismatic and experienced entertainer with fantastic stage charm, emotional intensity, vocal virtuosity and excellent audience awareness. For those who already know and love his work, Ola Onabule is a truly powerful artist with incredible stage presence, charisma and the ability to cross cultural boundaries.
Over the years, Ola has built an international career with his recordings and concert programs. Ola's music has been used in films, arrangements of his songs have been heard around the world with big bands, orchestras and choirs. Ola performs with quartets, quintets and large ensembles and sometimes even as a solo singer.
These concert-presentations with different lineups have introduced his music to audiences around the world. Among the listeners who enjoy genre diversity, there are fans of jazz, soul, world music and even classical music.
Ola has collaborated with many legendary jazz artists such as Diane Reeves, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack, Patti Labelle. Diana Krall shared the stage at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Ola Onabule is not only a singer-songwriter, but also a producer, who has said: “In the world of music with ruthless competition, my mantra to survive as a musician has always been 'hands on' and independence. I feel like the creative parts of songwriting, producing and recording are just different stages of the same process."
Villu Veski is one of the best-known Estonian jazz musicians both in Estonia and internationally, who has given concerts in
prestigious concert halls: Tokyo Opera City, Berliner Philharmonie, London Queen Elizabeth Hall and others.
He has participated in important international festivals: Rochester Jazz Festival in New York, Pori Jazz Festival in Finland,
Natt Jazz in Norway, Brussels Jazz Marathon in Belgium, World Saxophone Congress in Montreal and the British Saxophone Congress at the Royal College of Music in London.
Villu's cooperation partners are musicians from the Faroe Islands, Hawaii, Argentina, Spain, India and other special places around the world.
Eivør Pálsdóttir (Faroe Islands), Jan Gunnar Hoff (Norway), Ola Onabule (England), Bobo Stenson (Sweden) Barbara Dennerlein (Germany), Lee Oskar (USA) etc. have been Villu's cooperation partners on stage and in the studio.
He is also a member of Arctic Ensemble Yggdrasil founded by Faroese composer Kristian Blak.
Villu Vesk's best-known ensemble is "NordicSounds", created together with Tiit Kalluste, with which they have given hundreds of concerts and recorded four albums.
Aarne Saluveer is an internationally known Estonian choir conductor and the founder and conductor of the Estonian Television Girls' Choir. He was recently awarded the prize of the Estonian Music Council on the International Music Day for his important and outstanding activity in the musical life.
Several generations of well-known musicians have grown up under Aarne Saluveer's
Prize of the Estonian Music Council
JAN GUNNAR HOFF I VILLU VESKI (Norway/Estonia) "GOING NORTH"
07.12. 2024 Arvo Pärt Centre
