Harri Kuusijarvi, Jori Huhtala, Mika Kallio
Biography Harri Kuusijarvi, Jori Huhtala, Mika Kallio
Harri Kuusijarvi
Accordionist-composer Harri Kuusijärvi's Koutus is a project whose take on modern music has been described as avant fusion accordion jazz. Drawing on various contemporary influences the group creates a distinctive soundscape with taste of prog rock, jazz and world music fueled with improvisation. Kuusijärvi’s compositions present accordion in a new light accompanied with varying lineups of unconventional instrumentations.
The albums Koutus (2014) and Music For A Family Picnic (2017) have been internationally acclaimed by critics of jazz, rock and world music. In 2020 the band released two albums, the first being a live album Live in Helsinki (out 12.6.2020) and the band's third studio album Mirage (out 25.9.2020).
Harri Kuusijärvi has explored accordion music with an exceptionally wide angle. He has forged a formidable reputation for performing contemporary repertoire for accordion, and has given concerts in several stages around the world. As a composer Kuusijärvi was nominated for the Teosto Prize 2020, one of the most noteworthy art prizes in the Nordic countries.
Jori Huhtala
(born in 1984) is a Finnish bass player. Originally brought up in Jyväskylä in central Finland Jori became interested in jazz music in early age. He began his studies at his hometown and later on moved to Helsinki to study at the Sibelius Academy’s Jazz Music Department, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in 2014.
Mainly focusing on jazz music, he performs and records with numerous top artists in Finland, e.g. Eero Koivistoinen, Raoul Björkenheim, Jussi Fredriksson, Pope Puolitaival and Sid Hille. He has also collaborated with many of the leading jazz artists of the world, such as David Liebman, Billy Hart, Tim Hagans, Tim Ries, Jukkis Uotila and Severi Pyysalo.
Huhtala is an active composer and he has written music for many of the groups he performs with. Currently Jori is focusing on his new quartet Jori Huhtala Basis which will be releasing its debut album on the near future.
Mika Kallio
Born in Kuopio in 1974, Mika Kallio already knew at a very early age that he wanted to follow his uncle’s footsteps and become a professional drummer. His uncle, Roope Koistinen, gave Mika his first pair of sticks when he was 10. At the age of fifteen Mika got his first drumset.
After high school Kallio studied music at the Joensuu Conservatory with Pasi Naulapää and later on with the great Tomi Salesvuo. In 1996 Kallio was accepted in the Sibelius Academy Jazz Department to study with great teachers like Jukkis Uotila, Jarmo Savolainen, Raoul Björkenheim and Sonny Heinilä. He got his Master of Music degree in 2002.
Mika Kallio has collaborated with most major jazz musicians in Finland. Some of the players he has worked and/or recorded with are Mikko Innanen, Kari Ikonen, Pauli Lyytinen, Raoul Björkenheim, Otto Donner, Esa Onttonen, Sonny Heinilä, Kirmo Lintinen, Anssi Nykänen, Jarmo Savolainen, Jukka Perko, Teemu Viinikainen, Manuel Dunkel, Verneri Pohjola, Jukka Gustavson, Marzi Nyman, Eero Koivistoinen, Pekka Pohjola, Mia Simanainen, Seppo Kantonen, Severi Pyysalo, Teppo Hauta-aho, Sid Hille, Uffe Krokfors, Iro Haarla, Kalle Kalima, Sakari Kukko, Juhani Aaltonen and Pedro Hietanen
Kallio has also worked with Tomasz Stanko (PL), Wadada Leo Smith (USA), Trygve Seim (NO), Michael Formanek (USA), JD Walter (USA), Peter Bernstein (USA), Gary Versace (USA), John Lindberg (USA), Philippe Catherine (BE), Stefan Pasborg (DK), Ben Monder (USA), Bänz Oester (CH), Ain Agan (EE), Sebastien Boisseau (FR), Laurent Blondiau (BE), Matthieu Donarier (FR), Marc Ducret (FR), Ron McClure (USA), John Zorn (USA), Gunnar Halle (NO), Jaak Sooäär (EE), Tim Hagans (USA), Staffan Svensson (SE), Vincent Courtois (FR), Jim Pembroke (UK) and Michael Gibbs (USA).
Since 1997, Mika has played on 70 albums with various bands and his debyt as a leader/soloist ”Mika Kallio” was released in 2008. He is also a co-leader in such bands like Mikko Innanen – Mika Kallio Duo and Verneri Pohjola – Mika Kallio Duo.
Kallio also leads a Percussion Ensemble called Kallio Slaaki (with Anssi Nykänen and Mikko Hassinen) and their debut LP “Polymania for Percussion” was released in 2013.
In 2016 Kallio started a new project “IMPULSION” with Finnish dance artist Satu Rinnetmäki. CD and DVD was released later that year.
As a sideman he works in various groups, such as Teemu Viinikainen Trio, Verneri Pohjola Group, Mikko Innanen 10+, Gourmet, Jussi Fredriksson Trio, Agan/Viinikainen/Mälgand/Kallio Quartet, Kalle Kalima Attacus and Pauli Lyytinen Magnetia Orkesteri.
Kallio also works occasionally with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.
Mika teaches at the Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Kuopio and at the Sibelius Academy Jazz Department in Helsinki.
Mika has been a PAISTE Artist since 2012.
