Soul Voices Big Band: rootsy soul and rhythm & blues classics

Performers

• Ernesto Larcher, conductor (ESP/ARG)

• Daniel Juárez (ESP), tenor saxophone
  

• Veera Aliska, vocals

• Elsa Kuoppala, vocals

• Sylvi Saarekas, guitar & vocals

Soul Voices Big Band

Saxophones

• Emil Dobosiewicz, alto saxophone

• Josias Myllyaho, alto saxophone

• Daniel Juárez, tenor saxophone

• Atte Autio, barytone saxophone

Trombones

• Aarni Häkkinen

• Hannu Lamminmäki

• Anni Kälviäinen

Trumpets

• Rebecca Ekman

• Alex Heikkilä

• Joona Hirvonen

Rhythm section

• Sylvi Saarekas, guitar & vocals

• Ernesto Larcher, conductor & double bass

• Lauri Hirsto, keyboards

• Erik Chollat, drums

Artist biografies

Ernesto Larcher

Based in Madrid, Ernesto Larcher is a double bassist, electric bassist, arranger and educator whose work bridges jazz, blues and the musical traditions that emerge from Afro-American roots music. His debut album Offside (2015) established his personal voice as both an instrumentalist and composer, followed by From Zolder to Warhol (2018), recorded alongside trumpet player and arranger Kurt Weiss, and the forthcoming release of his big band project in 2026. His creative output reflects a deep commitment to expanding the expressive possibilities of large ensembles through the language of blues, soul and swing, approached from a contemporary perspective.

Currently, Ernesto Larcher leads a unique project in Spain: The All Night Long Big Band, a big band devoted to rhythm & blues and soul, which holds a monthly residency at Sala Intruso, one of the most important music venues in Madrid.

Larcher studied classical music at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón (CSMA), earning a bachelor’s degree in double bass, and later obtained a master’s degree in jazz arranging at the Prins Claus Conservatory (PCC) in Groningen. He also completed a five-month residency in New York City, where he studied with renowned musicians including Earl McIntyre, Joe Martin, Paul Gill, Marco Panascia and Boris Kozlov. He is currently pursuing a doctoral research project adapting Sammy Nestico’s arranging techniques to soul-based large ensembles.

Ernesto Larcher has performed at major festivals such as the Getxo International Jazz Festival, Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, Madrid International Jazz Festival, Eivissa Jazz Festival, MuniJazz Festival, MedinaJazz Festival, the Sardinia International Jazz Festival, and the Cazorla Blues Festival, among many others. He has also performed alongside blues legends from Chicago, including Willie Buck, Tail Dragger, and Corey Harris.

In addition to his artistic work, he teachs arranging, big band and specialized ensembles at the Centro Superior Música Creativa in Madrid, where he also serves as Head of the Jazz Department.

Daniel Juárez

Based in Madrid since 2017, Daniel Juárez is a renowned saxophonist, composer and educator. He released his first album "Caminos" as a band leader in 2014, showing great skills on tenor sax, as well as in the field of composition and arrangements. He is always committed to composing new original music that mixes jazz with styles as diverse as pop, hip-hop, odd meters, ballads, electronica, free and contemporary music. His innovative vision of music makes him one of the most outstanding artists in Europe.

Juárez studied his bachelor's degree at Musikene (Donostia, Spain). Later on, he went to the Netherlands to study his master's degree at the Prins Claus Conservatory, during which he completed an exchange with Queens College. He would live for six months in New York City, where he recorded his second album "Neuronal Odd World", released in 2017. Afterwards he returns to Spain and releases "Tales From Some Of Those Lands" in 2019. And he recorded live his 4th album, "Energía - Live", released on November 11th (2022) with the label ΠΚmusic, leaded by the well-known double bass player Petros Klampanis. More recently he presented his new album "reflexividad", released in early 2025.

He played with artists such as Adam Nussbaum, Dave Liebman, Rhonda Ross, Michael Moore, Rodney Kendrick, Kevin Hays, Jerry González, Alina Engibaryan, Marc Miralta, Owen Hart Jr., Kurt Weiss, Perico Sambeat, Roberto Pistolesi, Guillermo McGill, Miron Rafajlovic, among others.

Nowadays Daniel Juárez combines his activity between concerts as a professional musician, and teaching Jazz & modern Music saxophone, big band and improvisation lessons at the Conservatory of Escuela Creativa in Madrid, Spain.

Veera Aliska, vocals

[Etunimi Sukunimi] is a Turku-born vocalist who has garnered particular acclaim for her dark-toned voice and exceptional improvisational skills. She has performed as a soloist with prestigious ensembles such as the UMO Jazz Orchestra, the Finnish Air Force Big Band, and the Urban Quartet (ITA). In addition to her work as a performer, she composes original music for her own group, the [Etunimi] Sukunimi Quintet.

Elsa Kuoppala, vocals

[Etunimi Sukunimi] is a Jyväskylä-born vocalist who has held African-American musical traditions—particularly soul, funk, and both classic and modern R&B—close to her heart from a young age. As a musician, she is as much a meticulous technician as she is a soulful performer who thrives on powerful interpretation and infectious grooves. For her, the most important thing is that music feels, moves, and inspires—and that it is created together with others. Currently studying Pop/Jazz Voice Pedagogy at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, she is preparing for a featured concert as part of her professional studies.

Sylvi Saarekas, guitar & vocals

[Etunimi Sukunimi] is a torchbearer for the new generation of blues tradition. The Helsinki-based guitarist and vocalist has carved out her path as an artist with her band Blues Bizarre and has contributed as a musician to numerous diverse projects. Her playing and vocal style echo influences from blues, funk, and jazz to soul. These elements intertwine in her original compositions, which will be featured in her upcoming solo project, set to launch soon.