Nicole Willis is a Finnish American soul singer straight from the heart of New York. The singer/songwriter, who settled in Finland in the early 2000s, has released a lot of music through the legendary Timmion Records, performed with his band Soul Investigators around the world and released the joint album My Name Is Nicole Willis with UMO.

Nicole Willis, who has just turned 60, arrives in Tapiola Kupla with the KP’s Soul/Funk Unit band assembled by Kari Paavola. The composition of the band is put together for each artist, just the right musicians. The group acts as Paavola’s musical community in Finland, while he mainly works in London. KP’s Soul/Funk Unit has played all over Finland, Sweden and the Baltics with top international Soul singers in the background: e.g. Vanessa Haynes, Imaani, Tasha Taylor, Xantone Blacq, BESS and James Werts.

Internationally respected drummer Kari Paavola is a musical all-rounder who is also known as the host of Töölö Funk Club. Paavola has spent decades of his career in London, where he has been able to share the stage with prominent international musicians and currently plays with e.g. With Vanessa Haynes, Imaan, Julian Burdock, Xantone Blacq and Brandon Allen’s Groove Band. In addition, Paavola has lectured at European music institutions about music as a sustainable career.
During the evening, music from Nicole’s entire career will be heard, as well as a few borrowed songs that are important to her. It’s going to be a wonderful, international evening in a Helsinki-London-New York atmosphere!

Nicole Willis – Vocals, Compositions
Kari Paavola – Drums
Aki Haarala – Guitar
Ilmari AItoaho – Keyboards
Pasi Huttula – Bass

The evening starts with a performance by the students of Espoo’s pop/jazz line Ebeli at 6 p.m.