Jazz Finland Live

Jussi Lehtonen counts among the finest Finnish drummers. Known as a versatile musician who has a knack for marrying tradition with a sovereign command of his instrument, he has plenty of experience in working with bands of different sizes.  He has also performed with numerous Finnish and international jazz stars, including American saxophonist Dave Liebman, who featured in Lehtonen, Aki Rissanen and Jori Huhtala’s quartet project in 2014. Lehtonen also wrote compositions and arrangements for the quartet’s album, as well as for the Finnish Koko Jazz Orchestra, whose debut album came out the same year. In addition to his own groups, Lehtonen plays alongside the likes of Eero Koivistoinen, Jukkis Uotila and Severi Pyysalo.

Lehtonen is an active composer whose discography comprises three solo albums: the 2009 Firstborn, the 2013 This Time and the 2017 Move On. For his latest album, Move On, released in late 2017, Lehtonen reassembled the trusted crew of his debut album and, indeed, the material was written with these musicians in mind. This stellar quintet paints with strong colours and high intensity which allows each player’s strengths come to the fore beautifully.

Jussi Lehtonen, drums and compositions
Joonatan Rautio, tenor saxohpone
Teemu Viinikainen, guitar
Aki Rissanen, piano 
Jori Huhtala, double bass

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