Every year, the Euroradio Jazz Producers put together a European jazz big band under the name of the Euroradio Jazz Orchestra (EJO), a project that can trace its roots back to 1965.
Under the conductor/composer Christoph Cech, the EJO will give concerts from 16 to 19 October in Graz, Vienna, Linz and Salzburg. The Jazz Producers will meet in Vienna on Friday, 18 October.
Finnish trombonist Aarni Häkkinen plays the lead trombone at the EJO's concerts. 21-year-old Aarni Häkkinen graduated from Madetoja High School of Music on spring 2016, while at the same time studying at the Conservatory of Oulu’s Pop & Jazz departments line of professional education. The next fall (2016) he began his studies at the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences rhythm music department under the guidance of the Finnish jazz trombone master Antti Rissanen. Currently Häkkinen is studying in Hochschule Luzern with Nils Wogram.
Even at this young age Häkkinen has already performed with many highly esteemed bands such as UMO Jazz Orchestra, Sointi Jazz Orchestra, Tomi Salesvuo East Funk Attack, The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band, Turku Jazz Orchestra & Finnish Junior All Star Big Band. Since spring 2018 he has also led his own big band called Roast Burn Big Band which then proceeded to win the Finnish Big Band Championship in the fall of 2018.