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Heikki Ruokangas

guitarist
heikki-ruokangas

Heikki Ruokangas (b. 1987) is a jazz/avant-garde guitarist and composer from Oulu. The dialogue between melody and noise forms Ruokangas' musical expression, moving from sensitive moods to almost violent avant-garde explosions.

Ruokangas's latest acoustic solo guitar album Karu was released in October 2023 by the American label 577 Records. The album follows his previous releases Kaamos Waltz (2020), Heikki Ruokangas: Monologues (2017) and Mono and Dialogues (2018). In total, Ruokangas has released twelve albums.

Ruokangas belongs to several ensembles, e.g. Finnish-Danish Ruokangas-Estola-Roland-Trio, Monologues solo guitar project and guitar duo Heikki Ruokangas & Henrik Hako-Rita.

In addition to Finland, Ruokangas has performed e.g. in Denmark, Estonia, Sweden and Italy, Ruokangas' music has been released in the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany. Ruokangas has made joint records e.g. with Danish guitarist Alex Jonsson (Alone and Together - Live 2018) and French avant-garde legend Noel Akchote (Diptych 2019). Ruokangas is part of the international CI Community Project, which consists of composers and improvisers working with modern music around the world.