The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band was founded in 2005 with a need to perform great swing music from the 1930s and 1940s. Since then, the swing style direction performed by the orchestra has expanded to include an even broader repertoire, but swing is still the at the core of the orchestra's performance. The orchestra's permanent conductor is Antti Rissanen and its curator is its founder, trumpet player Sami Pöyhönen, who also acts as the orchestra's concertmaster. The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band Association is responsible for artistic direction.

The orchestra's Malmi concert series have been extremely popular - since 2006, the hall's occupancy rate has averaged 90 percent. The orchestra's first recording In The Glenn Miller Mood was released in the spring of 2007. It was followed by Groovy Moments and melodies (2011), Santa Claus Swinging Christmas Concert (2011), and Ranskalaiset korot - music by Erik Lindström (2012).

The themes of orchestra's Malmi concert series have been the big names in swing music such as Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Gene Krupa, Erik Lindström, Duke Ellington, Wes Montgomery, Artie Shaw, Sammy Nestico, Anita O'Day, Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Django Reinhardt and Charlie Cristian. The orchestra is available for commissioned concerts, dances, solo accompaniments and recordings on all the themes it performs.

TRUMPETS
Sami Pöyhönen
Kalevi Louhivuori
Markku Renko
Leo Kylätasku

SAXOPHONES
Johannes Salomaa
Wiljami Suvanne
Joonatan Rautio
Frans Thomson
Pekka Seppänen

TROMBONES
Jay Kortehisto
Jani Jokinen
Mikko Haanpää
Jouko Antere

RHYTHM SECTION
Jartsa Karvonen, drums
Timo Tuppurainen, bass
Janne Maarala, piano
Jussi Lampela, guitar

CONDUCTORS:
Lead conductor Antti Rissanen
Other conductors: Jussi Lampela, Johannes Salomaa, Markku Renko and Martti Peippo

SINGERS
Annimaria Rinne
Juki Välipakka
Anna Inginmaa
Pekka Kurki
Minna Lasanen

THE ANDREWS GIRLS
Hannemaija Kahila
Linda Ilves
Siiri Kangas

THE OLDINAIRES
Hanne Rouvali
Linda Ilves
Siiri Kangas
Juki Välipakka
Timo Kurvi