North of Kallio Ensemble shakes up the Helsinki jazz scene with catchy songs, top class musicianship, energy and a world class vocalist.

The band describes their music like this: ”Our music is nordic jazz with cinematic soundscapes. You can hear influences from all of the members musical jurneys through out the years. There are big emotions, fragile moments, all the colors of life.”

North Of Kallio Ensemble is comprised of major players in the Finnish music business.

Lasse Piirainen (piano / keyboard) won the Finnish qualifier of the Eurovision Song contest in 2017 as part of the duo Norma John and thus represented Finland in the semi-final round held in Kyiv, Ukraine. Beyond Eurovision Piirainen is known from numerous tv bands: for example The Voice of Finland, Idol and X-factor. He has toured with the some of the biggest names in the Finnish music scene: Cheek, Sunrise Avenue and Isaac Elliot just to mention a few. He has also collaborated with international superstars like Hurts and John Patitucci.

Musical theatre star and vocalist, finalist of the Voice of Finland in 2015 Jennie Storbacka (vocals) is currently starring as ”Diva” in the hit musical Priscilla – Queen of the desert at the City Theatre of Helsinki. She was also chosen to headline the annual Ball of Independence at the Presidential Palace in 2018, which is one of the most prestigious assignments you can get as a vocalist in Finland.

Ville Herrala's (bass) achievements, among others, includes winner of Jazz-Emma of the year (Finnish Grammy) with PLOP 2023 and Jazz Artist of the year 2022. He is known from numerous jazz bands and records, and is one of the most famous bassplayers in the jazz genre in Finland.

Drummer virtuoso Tuomas Timonen has played with all of the biggest names in jazz in Finland: Timo Lassy, Jukka Perko, Yona, Verneri Pohjola, Aili Ikonen and UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra to name a few. He is one of the most sought after drummers in jazz in Finland due to his personal and bold style of playing.

The name, North Of Kallio Ensemble, is a play on SoHo (South of Houston Street) in New York. Kallio, like SoHo in NY used to be, is a kind of bohemian part of the city that is open minded, where musicians and all kinds of artist come together to celebrate art and life. When they started this band, all of them lived north of this are, so therefore they became North Of Kallio Ensemble, simple as that.