Alexi Tuomarila (born 27 February 1974) is a Finnish jazz pianist and composer.
Biography
Born in
Pori
Pori (; ; ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Satakunta. It is located on the west coast of the country, on the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Pori is approximately , while the Pori sub-region, sub-region has a population of a ...
, Finland, Alexi Tuomarila started studying classical piano at the age of six at the
Espoo
Espoo (, ; ) is a city in Finland. It is located to the west of the capital, Helsinki, in southern Uusimaa. The population is approximately . It is the most populous Municipalities of Finland, municipality in Finland. Espoo is part of the Helsi ...
Music Academy, Finland. As a teenager he was enthusiastic about rock and grunge music before digging deeper into jazz through his father's record collection. In 1993 Tuomarila was accepted to Oulunkylä pop/jazz Conservatory in
Helsinki
Helsinki () is the Capital city, capital and most populous List of cities and towns in Finland, city in Finland. It is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland and is the seat of southern Finland's Uusimaa region. About people live in the municipali ...
, Finland. Next year, in 1994 he continued his studies under
Diederik Wissels
Diederik Wissels (born December 1960, in Rotterdam, Netherlands) is a Dutch jazz pianist.
In 1968, he moved to Brussels, Belgium and later attended Boston's Berklee College of Music. In his early career, he played with Chet Baker, Joe Henderson an ...
and
Nathalie Loriers
Nathalie Loriers (born 27 October 1966, Namur) is a Belgian jazz pianist and composer.
Music career
In 1991 Loriers formed her own quartet with Kurt Van Herck (saxophone), Philippe Aerts (double bass) and Mimi Verderame (drums). She also has h ...
at the
Royal Conservatory of Brussels
The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (, ) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Providing performing music and drama courses, the institution became renowned par ...
and earned his
Master of Music
The Master of Music (MM or MMus) is, as an academic title, the first graduate degree in music awarded by universities and conservatories. The MM combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization (usually performance in singing or i ...
degree in 1999. Currently Tuomarila is working on his doctoral research at the University of Arts,
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy (, ) is part of the University of the Arts Helsinki and a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki ...
, Helsinki.
During his studies he formed his Quartet with
Nicolas Kummert
Nicolas Kummert (born March 12, 1979) is a Belgian jazz singer and tenor saxophonist.
Biography
In 2001 Kummert graduated at the Brussels conservatory with teachers Jeroen Van Herzeele and John Ruocco. He was also taught by Fabrizio Cassol ...
, Christophe Devisscher, and Teun Verbruggen. In 1999 his quartet won the award for best band and Tuomarila won the prize for best soloist at the "21st Hoeilaart International Jazz Competition" Belgium. In 2001, he received the first prize at the "3rd International Jazz Soloist Competition" in
Monaco
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
, and he won the "10th International Tremplin Jazz Competition" in
Avignon
Avignon (, , ; or , ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the Communes of France, commune had a ...
with his quartet.
The Alexi Tuomarila Quartet also won the first prize at the "5th International Granada Jazz Competition" in Spain 2005.
The quartet recorded and released three albums ''Voices of Pohjola'' for
Igloo Records
Igloo Records is a record label run by the not-for-profit association ''Sowarex'' in Brussels, Belgium that concentrates on jazz and world music. Igloo is the best-known of five imprints run by Sowarex. According to one of its founders, the label ...
(Benelux) 2001, the Emma Award (Finnish Grammy) nominee ''02'' for Finlandia Records -
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group Corp., commonly abbreviated as WMG, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational entertainment and record label Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the "Record label#M ...
2003, and ''Runo X'' for Edita Cambeya (Spain) 2007.
Alexi Tuomarila Quartet changed the name of the group into Drifter and welcomed Axel Gilain as a bass player/vocalist. Drifter recorded and released the critically acclaimed ''Flow'' album for
Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Mats Eilertsen
Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, S ...
and Finnish drummer
Olavi Louhivuori
Olavi Louhivuori (born 13 July 1981 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a Finnish jazz drummer and composer, the leader of his own ensemble Oddarrang, and also performer within several other bands. He is married to the singer Emma Salokoski.
Career
L ...
. The trio has released four critically acclaimed albums: ''Constellation'' for
Jazzaway Records
Jazzaway is a Norwegian record label founded by saxophonist Jon Klette in Oslo, Norway. He is also the main composer/leader in the band Jazzmob. Their CD ''Pathfinder'' (2003) was the first release from the label.
The label includes artists ...
(Norway, 2006), ''Seven Hills'' (2013), ''Kingdom'' (2017) and ''Sphere'' (2019) for distinguished British
Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Emma award (Finnish Grammy) for "Jazz album of the year".
British
BBC Music Magazine
''BBC Music Magazine'' is a British monthly magazine that focuses primarily on classical music.
The first issue appeared in September 1992. BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the BBC, was the original owner and publisher together with ...
gave the album five stars and selected it as the "Jazz album of the month" (07/2019).
Tuomarila played a decade, from 2007 until 2017, with the Polish trumpet player
Tomasz Stańko
Tomasz Ludwik Stańko (; 11 July 1942 – 29 July 2018) was a Polish trumpeter and composer associated with free jazz and the avant-garde.
In 1962, Tomasz Stańko formed his first band, the Jazz Darings, with saxophonist Janusz Muniak, pianist ...
in different band combinations. Their first concert together was at the 750th anniversary of the city of
Kraków
, officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...
.
During 2009–2014 Tuomarila played with
Tomasz Stanko Tomasz is a Polish given name, the equivalent of Thomas in English.
Notable people with the given name include:
* Tomasz Adamek (born 1976), Polish heavyweight boxer
* Tomasz Arciszewski (1877–1955), Polish socialist politician and Prime M ...
Quintet (
Jakob Bro thumb
Jakob Bro (born April 11, 1978) is a Danish guitarist and composer.
He has released 20 albums as a bandleader and became a renowned artist on the international jazz scene after recording and touring with Paul Motian, Tomasz Stanko, Lee Konit ...
, Anders Christensen,
Olavi Louhivuori
Olavi Louhivuori (born 13 July 1981 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a Finnish jazz drummer and composer, the leader of his own ensemble Oddarrang, and also performer within several other bands. He is married to the singer Emma Salokoski.
Career
L ...
) toured around the world and also recorded the '' Dark Eyes'' for
ECM Records
ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is an independent record label founded by Karl Egger, Manfred Eicher and Manfred Scheffner in Munich in 1969. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a variety of recordings, and ECM's a ...
, 2010, which reached number five in the Polish pop charts.
Between 2015 and 2017 Tuomarila performed and toured with the Tomasz Stanko NY Quartet in Europe, China and Australia with Gerald Cleaver and
Reuben Rogers
Reuben Renwick Rogers (born November 15, 1974) is a jazz bassist from the Virgin Islands.
Biography
Born November 15, 1974, and raised in the Virgin Islands, Rogers was exposed to varieties of music that included calypso, reggae, gospel an ...
In 2023, the
Tapiola Sinfonietta The Tapiola Sinfonietta (founded in 1987) is a city orchestra in Espoo, Finland. The orchestra consists of 41 members, and its principal concert venue is Tapiola Hall (with 773 seats) at the Espoo Cultural Centre.
In the beginning, Jorma Panula, ...
and the Alexi Tuomarila Trio, featuring Sami Rahola on electronics, premiered Tuomarila's concerto "Between Dark and Light" for symphony orchestra at the April Jazz Festival in Tapiolasali,
Espoo Cultural Centre
The Espoo Cultural Centre (; ) is a culture centre in Tapiola, Espoo, Finland. It is most famous for hosting the central library of Tapiola. Near the culture centre is the Tapiola swimming pool and the Tapiola Garden hotel.
The Espoo Cultural C ...
. The concerto was conducted by Jukka Iisakkila.
Tuomarila has also shared the stage with i.a. Eric Revis,
Thomas Morgan (bassist)
Thomas Morgan (born 14 August 1981) is an American jazz bassist.
Biography
Morgan began playing the cello at 7, eventually switching to upright-bass at 14. In 2003 he received his bachelor's degree in Music from the Manhattan School of Music, ...
Joey Baron
Bernard Joseph Baron (born June 26, 1955 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American drummer best-known for working in avant-garde jazz with Bill Frisell and John Zorn.
Music career
Baron, who is of Jewish heritage, was born on June 26, 1955, in Ric ...
,
Kenny Wheeler
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, Order of Canada, OC (14 January 1930 – 18 September 2014) was a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards.
Most of his performances were rooted in jazz, but he w ...
,
Anders Jormin
Anders Bertil Michael Jormin (born 7 September 1957) is a Swedish bassist and composer.
Jormin established a musical partnership with Bobo Stenson in the mid-1980s which led to international recognition playing with Charles Lloyd, in the early ...
Jim Black
Jim Black is an American jazz drummer who has performed with Tim Berne and Dave Douglas. He attended Berklee College of Music.
Career
His band AlasNoAxis includes Hilmar Jensson on electric guitar, Chris Speed on tenor saxophone and clari ...
Perico Sambeat
Perico Sambeat (born 23 July 1962) is a Spanish jazz saxophonist.
Initially training as a classical flute player, Sambeat began playing the saxophone in 1980. In 1982, he moved to Barcelona and started to concentrate on the saxophone full-time.
...
,
UMO Jazz Orchestra file:Umo.jpg, 250px, UMO Jazz Orchestra
UMO Jazz Orchestra is a Finnish big band. It was founded in 1975 by jazz musicians Heikki Sarmanto and Esko Linnavalli.
UMO is an abbreviation of "Uuden Musiikin Orkesteri" (New Musical Orchestra). Since 198 ...
Peter Erskine
Peter Clark Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.
Early life and education
Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. He began playing the d ...
,
Bill Evans (saxophonist)
William D. Evans (born February 9, 1958) is an American jazz saxophonist, who was a member of the Miles Davis group in the 1980s and has since led several of his own bands, including Push and Soulgrass. Evans plays tenor and soprano saxophones ...
* Emma award category Jazz Album of the year, Alexi Tuomarila Trio ''Sphere''
Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Emma award Nomination, Alexi Tuomarila Quartet ''02'' Finlandia Records -
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group Corp., commonly abbreviated as WMG, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational entertainment and record label Conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the "Record label#M ...
* 1st Prize at "3rd International Monaco Jazz soloist Competition"
* 1st Prize at "10th Tremplin International Jazz Competition" Avignon, France, with Alexi Tuomarila Quartet
* 1st Prize at the "5th International Granada Jazz Competition", Spain, with Alexi Tuomarila Quartet
* 1st Prize at the "21st Hoeilaart International Jazz Competition" Brussels, Belgium
Discography
Solo albums
Alexi Tuomarila
* 2024: Departing the Wasteland (
Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Mats Eilertsen
Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, S ...
,
Olavi Louhivuori
Olavi Louhivuori (born 13 July 1981 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a Finnish jazz drummer and composer, the leader of his own ensemble Oddarrang, and also performer within several other bands. He is married to the singer Emma Salokoski.
Career
L ...
)
* 2006: Constellation (
Jazzaway Records
Jazzaway is a Norwegian record label founded by saxophonist Jon Klette in Oslo, Norway. He is also the main composer/leader in the band Jazzmob. Their CD ''Pathfinder'' (2003) was the first release from the label.
The label includes artists ...
)
* 2013: Seven Hills (
Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Nicolas Kummert
Nicolas Kummert (born March 12, 1979) is a Belgian jazz singer and tenor saxophonist.
Biography
In 2001 Kummert graduated at the Brussels conservatory with teachers Jeroen Van Herzeele and John Ruocco. He was also taught by Fabrizio Cassol ...
Igloo Records
Igloo Records is a record label run by the not-for-profit association ''Sowarex'' in Brussels, Belgium that concentrates on jazz and world music. Igloo is the best-known of five imprints run by Sowarex. According to one of its founders, the label ...
Nicolas Kummert
Nicolas Kummert (born March 12, 1979) is a Belgian jazz singer and tenor saxophonist.
Biography
In 2001 Kummert graduated at the Brussels conservatory with teachers Jeroen Van Herzeele and John Ruocco. He was also taught by Fabrizio Cassol ...
Jakob Bro thumb
Jakob Bro (born April 11, 1978) is a Danish guitarist and composer.
He has released 20 albums as a bandleader and became a renowned artist on the international jazz scene after recording and touring with Paul Motian, Tomasz Stanko, Lee Konit ...
,
Olavi Louhivuori
Olavi Louhivuori (born 13 July 1981 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a Finnish jazz drummer and composer, the leader of his own ensemble Oddarrang, and also performer within several other bands. He is married to the singer Emma Salokoski.
Career
L ...
ECM Records
ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is an independent record label founded by Karl Egger, Manfred Eicher and Manfred Scheffner in Munich in 1969. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a variety of recordings, and ECM's a ...
- ECM 2115)
Lithium (
André Fernandes
André Fernandes de Moura (born 10 December 1997) is a Brazilian politician serving as a member of the Chamber of Deputies
The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legis ...
, Joonas Tuuri, Jonne Taavitsainen)
* 2018: Red ( Challenge Records)
* 2021: To the Stars (
Eclipse Records
Eclipse Records is an American independent record label based in Butler, New Jersey.Morley, Hugh R. (December 2, 2007). "Digital Blues: Small Labels Struggle to Survive", ''The Record'', p. B1. The label is best known for bringing the Cleveland b ...
Igloo Records
Igloo Records is a record label run by the not-for-profit association ''Sowarex'' in Brussels, Belgium that concentrates on jazz and world music. Igloo is the best-known of five imprints run by Sowarex. According to one of its founders, the label ...
)
* 2017: Earthsong (
Igloo Records
Igloo Records is a record label run by the not-for-profit association ''Sowarex'' in Brussels, Belgium that concentrates on jazz and world music. Igloo is the best-known of five imprints run by Sowarex. According to one of its founders, the label ...
André Fernandes
André Fernandes de Moura (born 10 December 1997) is a Brazilian politician serving as a member of the Chamber of Deputies
The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legis ...
Dream Keeper (
Perico Sambeat
Perico Sambeat (born 23 July 1962) is a Spanish jazz saxophonist.
Initially training as a classical flute player, Sambeat began playing the saxophone in 1980. In 1982, he moved to Barcelona and started to concentrate on the saxophone full-time.
...
Edition Records
Edition Records is an independent record label that was founded in 2008 by pianist Dave Stapleton and photographer Tim Dickeson.Mats Eilertsen
Mats Eilertsen (born 4 March 1975) is a Norwegian jazz musician and composer. He is known for recording with numerous bands, including the Maria Kannegaard Trio, Ola Kvernberg, Nils Økland, Eldbjørg Raknes, Anders Aarum Trio, Eirik Hegdal, S ...
SkyDive Quintet (
Tore Brunborg
Tore Brunborg (born 20 May 1960) is a Norwegians, Norwegian jazz musician and composer who plays saxophone. He was born in Trondheim but grew up in Voss where a jazz environment was flowering. Known from numerous appearances with international g ...
Olavi Louhivuori
Olavi Louhivuori (born 13 July 1981 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a Finnish jazz drummer and composer, the leader of his own ensemble Oddarrang, and also performer within several other bands. He is married to the singer Emma Salokoski.
Career
L ...
)
* 2014: SkyDive (Hubro Music)
Nicolas Kummert
Nicolas Kummert (born March 12, 1979) is a Belgian jazz singer and tenor saxophonist.
Biography
In 2001 Kummert graduated at the Brussels conservatory with teachers Jeroen Van Herzeele and John Ruocco. He was also taught by Fabrizio Cassol ...
Voices (
Herve Samb
Herve (; ; ) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. On January 1, 2018 Herve had a total population of 17,598. The total area is which gives a population density of .
It is famed for its Herve cheese ...