Ambassador of Finland H.E. Antti Rytövuori and his wife Mrs. Minna Luoma hosted a jazz performance evening featuring talented Finnish singer Anna Inginmaa and guitarist Veikki Virkajärvi. Representatives of the foreign missions and the DQ community were warmly welcomed to enjoy the Groovy Night filled with music, interactions, and good memories. H.E. Antti Rytövuori introduced the artists known as the young jazz force in Finland, promoting Finnish culture, music, and art.
Anna Inginmaa runs her jazz club in the Vernissa Culture House, Vantaa, and tours around Finland with her band, while Veikki Virkajärvi has graduated from the Sibelius Academy jazz department, one of the largest music academies in Europe. The Sibelius Academy is the cornerstone of the Finnish music culture through its teaching, research, and work.
During our discussion, when I asked Mrs. Minna Luoma about the inspiration for organizing a jazz evening at the Embassy, she mentioned that the idea was revealed to H.E. Rytövuori and herself last summer in Finland when she heard Anna’s live performance at a friend’s birthday party.
“I heard her songs on the radio, but the live performance gave me an opportunity to better understand her unique talent. After her performance, I introduced myself and mentioned that I live in Riyadh. We started to discuss that maybe she should visit Saudi Arabia and perform. Then I sent my husband a couple of videos that I recorded and asked his opinion.” Ambassador Rytövuori was very supportive of the idea.
Accompanied by guitarist Veikki Virkajärvi, Anna Inginmaa performed jazz music that shows glimpses of her passion. Her song’s themes include rootlessness, tension of intimacy and hidden realms beneath the surface of humans. With her soulful songs and unique interpretations of life, Anna Inginmaa invited guests to penetrate into the depth of her reality, filled with the melodic sounds of jazz and soul.
During the interview, when I asked about the message she wanted to convey through her music, she underlined the importance of hope, “I think the only thing we need at this critical time for the world is hope. I want to spread positive energy through my music.”
This was the first visit of Anna Inginmaa and Veikki Virkajärvi to Saudi Arabia, which brought them positive impressions and great feelings.
