Helsinki-based artist, singer, and composer Siina Suutarinen's music explores emotion, human relationships, and everyday life. She is recognized for her vocal style and ability to improvise. Suutarinen's debut album "Who You Are" (2025) combines elements of jazz, r'n'b, and soul, blending both traditional and contemporary influences. In addition to her solo work, Suutarinen is the lead vocalist of the band Kanvas and a member of the vocal ensemble Calla.

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Tuomas Paukku is one of the most active guitarists in the Finnish jazz scene, whose bands include the contemporary jazz quartet Tuomas Paukku Scription and the multi-generational Jazz Jkl Collective. His newest project, "Peaces", explores the possibilities of the jazz guitar as a solo instrument, combining compositions, improvisations, different playing techniques, effects, and looping, moving stylistically through the most reflective and calm sectors of jazz and contemporary music.

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Iiro Rantala is one of Finland's best known jazz musicians internationally. When his Trio Töykeät was formed in 1988, Rantala concentrated on this group for 18 years. The trio were known for a unique combination of deep musicality and madcap humour, and played over 2,000 shows in forty-five countries. ECHO Jazz award winning Rantala has since then built a succesful solo career and released albums via ACT since 2009.

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Over the last years, pianist Aki Rissanen has made a name for himself in the international jazz world both as a leader and as a sideman. His trio's recent, critically acclaimed album 'Another North' on Edition Records, with Antti Lötjönen on bass and Teppo Mäkynen on drums, is his most authoritative work to date. His previous album Amorandom won the Finnish Grammy for the best jazz album of the year in 2016.

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Drummer, composer, and teacher Roope Kantonen started playing classical piano at the age of 5, and later on switched to drums. Holding a Master’s degree in jazz, he has specialized in South Indian Karnatic rhythmic techniques at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Has studied with Rafael Reina Camara, Martijn Vink, Lucas van Merwijk, Marcel Serierse, and many more. Although his main focus is on jazz, free improv, and contemporary music, he has a versatile background and experience playing in soul, funk, hip-hop, r&b, pop, and rock groups. Kantonen's debut solo/band album, "Introducing", by Roope Kantonen 3, came out in March 2025.

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Prominent pianist and composer Toomas Keski-Säntti first gained recognition as a member of the celebrated Finnish ensemble OK:KO. While constantly exploring new musical territories through composition and improvisation, his musical roots remain deeply grounded in jazz. After years of honing his craft as a sideman to many of Finland's leading jazz musicians, "Unearth," (2025) Keski-Säntti's debut album as a bandleader, marks the beginning of his journey as a solo artist.

Describing his background as bop & roll guitarist Varre Vartiainen has been part of the Finnish jazz and rock scene for over 25 years. Vartiainen is known from the grooving guitar-fronted act Husband and has worked with many established musicians including Timo Lassy and Anssi Nykänen. He was elected as the young soloist of the year by UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra in 1998. Vartiainen released his first solo album “The Lost Case” in 2011.

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Bass player Jori Huhtala has performed and recorded with a numerous top artists in Finland, e.g. Eero Koivistoinen, Raoul Björkenheim, Jussi Fredriksson, Jussi Lehtonen and Sid Hille. Huhtala is also an active composer and he's written music for many of the groups he performs with. Jori Huhtala 3 is his latest vision for a group to perform his compositions.

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Kaisa's Machine is a jazz quartet founded by double bassist Kaisa Mäensivu. The band has continually received a lot of interest, and has performed in all the largest jazz festivals around Finland ( ie. Pori Jazz, Tampere Jazz Happening, Turku Jazz). The music is influenced by modern jazz and the current sound in Scandinavia and New York. Each musicians' strong individual style also echoes in the music. Their debut album "In the key of K" was released in December 2017.

Virtuoso bassist Jukka Haavisto is a studio and live musician who plays and performs with his own band as well as with many different artists and ensembles. He studied at the University of Stavanger, Institute of Music and Dance, where he graduated with a Master's degree in 2016. Jukka Haavisto is known for his skillful mixing of fusion jazz, world music, and improvisation – even getting a co-sign from bass legend Leland Sklar: "Really harkens back to those 70's fusion albums that are so great."

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Ilkka Arola Sound Tangine is a six-piece ensemble consisting of the top musicians of the Finnish rhythmic music scene. Their music combines a variety of genres into a blend of folk, jazz, modern beats, and cinematic soundscapes, offering danceable, funky grooves and melodies reminiscing Arabic maqams and other microtonal sounds.

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Matti Oja and Mikko Pellinen form a guitar-bass duo that brings together two experienced musicians in a collaborative project. Their debut album, "Confluence," (2025) presents a musical exchange through original compositions. By incorporating multiple instruments, they create a layered and varied sound, drawing from jazz, folk, and classical influences. Matti Oja is a musician and educator with a background in performance and studio work, and Mikko Pellinen is a composer, arranger, internationally performing musician, and conductor.

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Joppo Matikainen is a drummer, musician, and composer based in Helsinki. His work draws from a range of genres, including jazz, funk, European jazz, blues, and gospel. He focuses on groove, improvisation, and harmonic detail, combining traditional elements with contemporary approaches. In early 2025, Matikainen released his debut EP, which features his drumming and original compositions. He works both in live performance and studio settings, incorporating a variety of musical influences into his work.

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Helmi Antila (b. 2000) is an singer-songwriter, violinist, and pianist from Helsinki, who The Finnish Jazz Federation awarded as a young jazz talent. Antila is known for her musical versatility and unique compositions. In her jazz quartet, she is joined by vibraphonist Mikko Antila, bassist Tuomo Purhonen, and drummer Mooses Kuloniemi. Currently, she is active in several projects, including leading her band, Helmi Antila Quartet, singing in the vocal ensemble Calla, and performing with the folk music group Aija Puurtinen & Brooklynin Satu.

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Vibraphone trio hailing from Helsinki, consisting of Panu Savolainen (vibraphone), Mikko Pellinen (bass), and Tuomas Timonen (drums). Herd was formed in 2009, and their debut album was a live recording simply titled "Live!!" (2011). They also recorded a collaboration album with singer Aili Ikonen. In 2019, the trio returned with another album with a simple title: "X".

Kadi Vija (b. 1985, EST/FIN) has a long background in vocal jazz improvisation and defines herself primarily as a vocal instrumentalist. Vija’s music explores sounds from modernism, jazz and electronics, as well as a deep fascination with rhythmic variety.

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Formed by Pauli Lyytinen, Sigurdur Rögnvaldsson, and David Meier, Finnish-Swiss-Icelandic Equally Stupid is a genre-blurring power trio blending jazz, rock, and experimental music with raw energy and fearless improvisation. The band has released two critically acclaimed albums and continues pushing sonic boundaries. The three band members are also active and versatile artists in their own right, having toured internationally with different projects for over a decade in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

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Harri Kuusijärvi is one of the most distinctive figures in today's Finnish accordion music. Known for his open-minded projects that push the traditional boundaries of what the accordion can achieve as an instrument, Kuusijärvi approaches accordion music with an exceptionally broad perspective. His albums have been recognized across a wide spectrum of media, from classical to rock, and jazz to global. He has premiered contemporary works for the accordion and performed on international stages. He is also an active performer in various world music, jazz, and pop ensembles. In recent years, Kuusijärvi has focused on electroacoustic music and the development of a new, electronically augmented accordion.

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"Think Art Ensemble Of Chicago on their groovy mode and add a strong DIY mentality, four people in a room creating music in the now. The lows are low and the highs are high, with the trumpet firmly on the red, adding just the right amount of blurriness into the picture." Oaagaada is a free jazz quartet from the rural parts of Southern Finland, focusing on "other things than the cleanest of hi-fi". The foursome consists of Tero Kemppainen (double bass), Simo Laihonen (drums), Sami Pekkola (sax) and Tuure Tammi (trumpet).

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Joona Toivanen (born 1981) is a Finnish jazz pianist, currently resided in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has become one of the most talented jazz pianists in Finland. Toivanen’s own trio has toured frequently in Finland and abroad, for example in Europe, Asia and Australia, and besides his trio, Toivanen has worked with many top jazz musicians in Europe. The trio won the 2018 Teosto Prize for their album "XX".

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Kalle Kalima’s music is mean, moody, magnificent, and is also adventurous and full of surprises. With his other experiments, such as Tenors of Kalma and Lampen he’s off exploring the badlands on the borders of rock, putting his hand on his heart to salute his Finnish homeland, and then inspiring jazz lawlessness in the band Kuu!

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Bassist Antti Lötjönen, one of the most highly-regarded and active musicians working in the Finnish jazz scene, who stepped ahead in 2020 with his debut album "Quintet East" shining bright as both bassist and composer. The debut was followed in 2023 by his sophomore album "Circus/Citadel" on the We Jazz label, where he was backed by a quartet formed by Mikko Innanen (drums), Jussi Kannaste (sax), Verneri Pohjola (trumpet) and Joonas Riippa (drums).

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Tuomo & Markus (also known as Pratt & Moody) is a musical project from Finnish soul/jazz artist Tuomo Prättälä and singer-songwriter Markus Nordenstreng of The Latebirds. The duo's music is influenced by folk rock and jazz as well as soul, American alt-country and americana. After releasing their debut full-length "Dead Circles" in 2016, the duo toured internationally, playing shows with bands like Wilco.

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Viba is a singer and songwriter based in Helsinki. In February 2025, she released her second album, "Harso," which continues to develop her alternative pop sound. The album features Finnish-language lyrics, synthesizer-driven arrangements, and contributions from a group of jazz musicians. Her music combines elements of Nordic melancholy with contemporary production and songwriting.

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Jazz pianist, harpist, composer, and band leader Iro Haarla studied at Sibelius Academy, initially intending to become a concert pianist, but pivoted to jazz upon meeting the jazz drummer Edward Vesala in 1978. Haarla first became known as the arranger of the works of Vesala, and only launched her solo career after his death in 1999, performing in and leading numerous ensembles. Haarla went on to record several albums, both as a leader and ensemble artist. Haarla's music has been characterized as "that mystical halfway point between improv and composition".

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Jonatan Snapir is a multidisciplinary artist whose latest album "Eberth", his first featuring compositions for guitar, will be released through Flame Jazz Records in November 2024. "Eberth" is centered around strong melodies, long narrative arcs, and the rich tonal colors of the electric guitar, oscillating between jazz, rock, and experimental textures. On the album and in concert, Snapir is joined by bassist Santeri Kettu and drummer Aapo Lankinen. They were a natural choice for Snapir as the album's rhythm section, as the duo has played together for a long time, and both their playing and musicality inspire Snapir.

Innovative eco-jazz band Piip combines jazz with the theme of nature conservation. Led by saxophonist and composer Laura Helander, Piip's instrumental music expresses sadness about the disappearing nature. Their music draws influences from Finnish prog, folk music, and sometimes even pop. The album's emotional undertones stem from Helander's climate anxiety as she watches a burning world. In addition to Helander, the band includes Mikko Antila, Tatu Back, and Benjamin Nylund, who convincingly bring their composer's compositions to life.

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The music of Jyväskylä-based duo Viive (Riikka Suutarinen and Antti Niiranen) incorporates tones from contemporary and spiritual jazz as well as ambient, progressive rock, trip hop, indie and folk music. Their organic, mainly instrumental music is tied together by Suutarinen's Finnish spoken word verses and a cool, emotionally charged atmosphere. Viive released their debut album "Sen jälkeen kun" in late 2024.

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Guitarist Ville-Veikko Airaniemi's solo debut "Calico" is a guitar-driven instrumental album that draws influences from ambient and post-rock, as well as jazz and folk. Inspired by musicians such as Nels Cline, Daniel Lanois, Julian Lage, and Bill Frisell, the songs are characterized by cinematic atmospheres and strong melodies. Ville-Veikko Airaniemi's broad musical interests have taken him to many different projects, with styles ranging from pop and rock to jazz, fusion, and world music.

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Aurora Hentunen’s music contains a lot of references from Northern Jazz and melodies from Scandinavian folk music. Her music has been described as very compositional and the band as distinctive, led by mature young musicians. The band is considered as one of the rising stars in the Northern Jazz scene.

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