Jazz Music of Finland

The Sakari Kukko with his orchestra Piirpauke have for over thirty year explored several patterns between the jazz, folk and the ethnic music from other countries, the Carola is a Finnish jazz vocalist who reached the international popularity, the most popular Finnish jazz musician are Edward Vesala, Pohjola and Jukka Tolonen that is formerly of prog orchestra Wigwaw and Tasavallan presidentti respectively, that represented the jazz rock genre. The only two professional big band in Finland, Espoo big band and UMO (New Music Orchestra) have gained the global interest and have worked with several of the world’s leading jazz musicians like Thad Jones, Maria Schneider and Dizzy Gillespie.

source of picture: musicfinland.fi

Nu-jazz, a current way with the electronic and pop influences, is also popular in Finland, and is represented by such orchestras as the long serving Rinneradio and newcomers, Quintessence, Nuspirit Helsinki, five Corners Quintet and the U-Street All Stars, jazz rap is represented by Don Johnson Big Band.