Wigwam was a Finnish psychedelic jazz-rock/art-rock band that cut seven studio albums between 1969 and 1977 on Love Records. They formed around English singer–pianist Jim Pembroke, organist Jukka Gustavson, and drummer Ronnie Österberg. Bassist Pekka Pohjola joined on the second album. Their early albums Hard N’ Horny (1969) and Tombstone Valentine (1970) blended jazz touches […]
Tasavallan Presidentti was a Finnish psychedelic jazz-rock band that released four albums and a collaborative work on Love and Sonet between 1969 and 1974. Members: Jukka Tolonen (guitar, piano), Frank Robson (vocals, keyboards, 1969-72, 1983-present), Vesa Aaltonen (drums, percussion), Måns Groundstroem (bass, keyboards, 1969-72, 1983-2002), Juhani Aaltonen (saxophone, flute, 1969-70, 1983-present), Pekka Pöyry (saxophone, flute, […]
Haikara was a Finnish symphonic/jazz-rock band that made the 1972–74 albums Haikara and Geafar, followed by the 1975 release Iso Lintu. They reunited in the late-Nineties for two further albums. Members: Vesa Lattunen (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Vesa Lehtinen (vocals, percussion), Harri Pystynen (flute, saxophone), Timo Vuorinen (bass), Markus Heikkerö (drums, percussion), Auli Lattunen (vocals), […]
Finnforest was a Finnish jazz-rock band that released three albums and a standalone single between 1975 and 1979 on Love Records. Members: Pekka Tegelman (guitar), Jussi Tegelman (drums), Jukka Rissanen (keyboards, 1972-75), Jarmo Hiekkala (bass, 1972-73, 1976), Aaro Mustonen (vocals, 1972-73), Pertti Pokki (synthesizer, 1976), Jarmo Rissanen (guitar, 1978-79), Jarmo Savolainen (keyboards, 1978-79), Heikki Keskinen […]
Tabula Rasa was a Finnish symphonic-folk band that released two albums and a standalone single between 1975 and 1977 on Love Records. Members: Heikki Silvennoinen (guitar), Tapio Suominen (bass), Asko Pakkanen (drums), Jarmo Sormunen (flute), Jukka Leppilampi (vocals), Jukka Salmela (vocals), Jarno Sinisalo (piano), Jukka Aronen (drums) Background Tabula Rasa formed in 1971 in Kangasala, […]
Pekka Pohjola (Jan. 13, 1952 — Nov. 26, 2008) was a Finnish bassist and composer whose four-decade career included stints in Wigwam, Uni Sono, and The Group. Between 1972 and 1980, he released five solo albums on Love Records and Dig It. Starting with 1982’s Urban Tango, he issued recordings on his namesake Pohjola label. […]
Kalevala was a Finnish art-rock/psych band from Helsinki that made the 1972 Finnlevy album People No Names and the 1975–77 Hi-Hat titles Boogie Jungle and Abraham’s Blue Refrain. Members: Juha “Lido” Salonen (guitar, bass, vocals), Beaver Aitto-Oja (drums, 1969), Remu Aaltonen (drums, vocals, 1969-71), Albert Järvinen (guitar, 1970-71), Matti Kurkinen (guitar, 1971-75), Alf Forsman (drums, […]
Uni Sono was a Finnish jazz-rock supergroup comprised of distinguished players on the Helsinki music scene. The band released a 1975 self-titled album on Hi-Hat. Members: Paroni Paakkunainen (saxophone, flute, percussion), Olli Ahvenlahti (electric piano, synthesizer), Reino Laine (drums), Mike Koskinen (trumpet, 1973-?), Hasse Walli (guitar, 1973-?), Make Lievonen (bass, 1973-?), Pekka Pohjola (bass, ?-1975), […]
Sukellusvene was a Finnish jazz-rock band from Lappeenranta, Etelä-Karjala, that released a standalone single and the 1979 album Vesi- ja lintumusiikkia, both on Love Records. Members: Lassi Talasmo (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet), Kari Litmanen (keyboards), Jukka Mäkinen (guitar), T. Tuomanen (guitar, bongos), Pekka Muhli (bass), Timo Kotineva (drums) Background Sukellusvene began in 1971 in […]
Apollo was a Finnish psych-rock band that released a self-titled album on Blue Master in 1970. Percussionist Edward Vesala became a prominent ECM recording artist. Members: Edward Vesala (drums, percussion, flute, vocals), Harri Saksala (vocals, accordion, harmonica), Eero Lupari (guitar, vocals), Heimo Holopainen (bass, vocals) Background Apollo formed in 1969 when jazz drummer Martti “Edward” […]
Kaamos was a Finnish symphonic/art-rock band that released the 1977 album Deeds and Talks. Members: Ilpo Murtojärvi, Jarkko Leivo, Johnny Gustafsson, Kyösti Laihi Background Kaamos formed in 1973 in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi. By spring 1976, the group consisted of vocalist/drummer Johnny Gustafsson, bassist Jarkko “Jakke” Leivo, keyboardist Kyösti Laihi, and guitarist/vocalist Ilpo Murtojärvi. Gustafsson and Murtojärvi […]
Jupu Group was a Finnish jazz-rock band that released the album Ahmoo! in 1975 on Hi-Hat. Keyboardist Jukka Linkola launched a lucrative solo career with the following year’s Banana. Members: Juhani “Jupu” Poutanen (violin, percussion), Jukka Linkola (keyboards, percussion), Janne Louhivuori (guitar), Ilkka Hanski (bass), Urpo “Upi” Sorvali (drums, percussion) Background Jupu Group began as […]
Fantasia was a Finnish symphonic-rock band that issued a 1975 self-titled album on Hi-Hat. Members: Hannu Lindblom (guitar, vocals), Jukka “Juki” Halttunen (guitar, 1973), Markku Lönngren (bass, 1973), Paavo Osola (keyboards, 1973, 1976), Karl-Erik Rönngård (drums, 1973-76), Roul Helantie (keyboards, fiddle, guitar, bass, 1973-78), Harri Piha (bass, 1973-76), Mikko Laine (keyboards, 1976), Thomas Lindström (drums, […]
Jukka Tolonen (born April 16, 1952) is a Finnish jazz-rock guitarist, pianist, composer, and bandleader who co-headed Tasavallan Presidentti. He launched his solo career with the 1971 album Tolonen! Discography: Tolonen! (1971) Summer Games (1973) The Hook (1974) Hysterica (1975) A Passenger to Paramaribo (1977) After Three Days (1978 • Christian Sievert, Jukka Tolonen, Mads […]
Organ was a Finnish synthpop unit that evolved from Argon, the duo behind the 1981 album Kone Kertoo. As a quartet, Organ made two singles and the 1982 album Nekrofiilis on Poko Rekords. Members: Pekka Tolonen (synthesizer), Mikko Saarela (synthesizer), Tapani Lahtinen (synthesizer), Seppe Parkkinen (synthesizer, percussion) Background Organ formed in late 1981 in Helsinki when […]
The Group were a Finnish jazz-rock super-band that released a self-titled album on Finnlevy-subsidiary Dig It in 1978. It features bassist Pekka Pohjola and keyboardist Olli Ahvenlahti, who previously partnered in the jazz-rock supergroup Uni Sono, along with Pohjola sidemen Seppo Tyni (guitar) and Vesa Aaltonen (drums). All four would appear on Pohjola’s 1979 release […]
Grizzly were a Finnish hard-rock band that released the album Neon City on Titan in 1977. Members: Juha Heininen (keyboards), Heikki Pehkonen (guitar, vocals), Kai Koski (drums), Ilkka Pehkonen (bass) Discography: Neon City (1977)
Blues Section was a Finnish rock band that played a mix of blues-jazz and psychedelic pop and released a self-titled 1967 album on Love Records, which issued six non-album singles by the band, including three co-billed to frontman Jim Pembroke and one co-billed to his temporary replacement, English singer Frank Robson. Pembroke formed Wigwam with […]
Ferris were a Finnish jazz-rock/psych band from Helsinki that released a self-titled album on Love Records in 1971. Members: Dave Lindholm (guitar, vocals), Heikki Hiekkala (organ, guitar, vocals), Matti Saxelin (drums, percussion), Jaakko Itävaara (bass), Klaus Stolt (bass, 1971) Discography: Ferris (1971)
Piirpauke are a Finnish ethno-jazz/rock band that released two albums and a live disc on Love between 1975 and 1978, followed by a round of titles on Ponsi, Kerberos, and Rockadillo during the 1980s. Members: Sakari Kukko (wind instruments, keyboards, kantele, percussion, vocals), Antti Hytti (bass), Hasse Walli (guitar), Jukka Wasama (percussion), Juha Björninen (guitar), […]
Nova was a Finnish symphonic-rock band from Helsinki that released a 1975 standalone single and the 1976 album Atlantis, both on Love Records. Members: Antti Ortamo (keyboards, vocals, guitar, harmonica), Jukka Marjala (drums), Veikko Kumpula (bass, 1975), Junnu Kostia (guitar, 1975), Michael Wasenius (guitar, 1975-?), Petri Peltola (bass, 1975-?) Background Nova formed in Helsinki in […]
Yellow were a Finnish hard-rock/psych band from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, that released the album Keltakuume on Finnlevy in 1975. Members: Hannu Takala (lead vocals, piano, percussion), Melvin McRae (guitar, vocals), Helge Koskela (bass), Raimo Osterman (drums) Discography: Keltakuume (1975)
Björninen Band was a jazz-rock project headed by Finnish guitarist Juha Björninen. The project yielded the album Space Traveller Lost on the Music Makers label in 1985. Members: Juha Björninen (guitar), Jartsa Karvonen (percussion), Paul “Tubbs” Williams (vocals, bass), Olli Ahvenlahti (piano, synthesizer), Lauri Valjakka (drums), Heikki Virtanen (bass), Timo Pratskin (synthesizer), Vesa Aaltonen (drums) […]
Frank Robson (April 27, 1946) is an English–Finnish keyboardist and singer who first emerged in 1968 as a member of Blues Section. Between 1969 and 1972, he was a member of Tasavallan Presidentti, playing on the Helsinki band’s first three albums. As a solo artist, he released two art-rock/jazz-rock albums between 1974 and 1976 on […]
Esa Helasvuo (born March 9, 1945) is a Finnish jazz pianist, composer, and arranger who released five albums between 1973 and 1985 on Finnlevy, Polarvox and Love Records. Discography: Think Tank Funk (1973) Omat hommat (1974) Onnimanni (1977) Q (1977) Huomenna sinä tulet (1985)
Kaseva were a Finnish pop/rock band from Tampere that released two albums and five singles on Love Records between 1974 and 1978, then another album for the local branch of EMI in 1982. Members: Mikko Jokela (guitar, vocals), Asko Raivio (guitar, vocals, ?-1989), Nils Jokela (drums, percussion), Tapio Rauma (guitar, vocals, 1974-present), Jouko Järvinen (bass, […]
Ilpo Saastamoinen (born July 22, 1942) is a Finnish guitarist, songwriter, and musicologist who has played on more than 100 albums since 1967. In 1976, he released the album Joutsenen Juju on Love Records. Discography: Joutsenen Juju (1976)
Heikki Sarmanto (born June 22, 1939) is a Finnish jazz-rock pianist, composer, and bandleader who has released more than 30 albums in solo and combo configurations since 1969. Discography: Flowers in the Water (1969 • Heikki Sarmanto Sextet) Counterbalance (1971 • Heikki Sarmanto Quintet) Like a Fragonard (1971 • Heikki Sarmanto Serious Music Ensemble) Everything […]
Jukka Gustavson (born Oct. 17, 1951) is a Finnish organist, vocalist, and composer who played with Wigwam between 1969 and 1974. Since 1978, he has released solo nine albums on assorted labels. Discography: …jaloa ylpeyttä yletän… ylevää nöyryyttä nousen (Pride’s an Exalted Purchase… Humility’s the Lever Sublime) (1978) Valon vuoksi (1979) Toden toistoa (1981) Bluesion […]
Jukka Hauru (born April 13, 1950) is a Finnish guitarist, composer, producer, and music writer who released two albums on Finnlevy and Love Records between 1972 and 1975. Discography: Information (1972) Episode (1975)
Jukka Linkola (born July 21, 1955) is a Finnish pianist, composer, and conductor who first emerged as a member of Jupo Group, which issued the 1975 album Ahmoo on Hi-Hat. In 1976, he debuted as a solo artist on the label with the album Banana. Background Jukka Tapio Linkola was born July 21, 1955, in […]
Matti Järvinen is a Finnish singer/songwriter who released the album Mattin Levi on Hi-Hat in 1976. Discography: Mattin Levi (1976)
Musta Paraati was a Finnish goth-rock band that released three singles and the 1983/84 Johanna albums Peilitalossa and Käärmeet. Members: Pasi Nikander (bass), Jari Kääriäinen (synthesizer, 1981-84, 2015-present), Ykä Knuuttila (drums, 1981-83, 2015-present), Jore Vastelin (vocals, guitar, 1981-83), General Njassa (vocals, 1981, 1983-84), Saku Paasiniemi (guitar, 1982-85, 2015-present), Epe Kronholm (vocals, 1984-85), Sande Vettenranta (drums, […]
Wasama Quartet were a Finnish jazz-rock band that released two albums on RCA between 1980 and 1983. Members: Ilkka Niemeläinen (guitar), Mikko-Ville Luolajan-Mikkola (violin), Olli-Pekka Wasama (bass), Jukka Wasama (drums, percussion, vocals), Pentti Lahti (saxophone, flute) Discography: Wasama Quartet (1980) Dirty Date (1983)
The Middle-Earth Band were a Finnish jazz-rock band that released the album The Thoughtful Bride on EMI in 1980. Members: Arto Koskinen (piano, spinet), Pekka Pöyry (soprano saxophone), Jukka Wasama (drums, percussion), Make Lievonen (bass), Tommi Parko (guitar), Raimo Lyly (tanpura) Discography: The Thoughtful Bride (1980)
Scapa Flow was a Finnish symphonic-folk band that released the 1980 album Uuteen Aikaan on Kompass. Members: Ismo Järvinen (saxophone, flute), Timo Seppänen (guitar), Asko Ahonen (bass), Olavi Kyllönen (drums), Leevi Leppänen (drums), Kari Jaksola (keyboards), Eero Kolehmainen (keyboards), Pia-Maria Noponen (vocals, flute) Background Scapa Flow formed in 1976 in Helsinki when singer–flutist–saxophonist Ismo Järvinen […]
Pepe & Paradise were a Finnish jazz-pop combo that released 10 singles and three albums on assorted labels between 1970 and 1975. Members: Pepe Willberg (vocals, guitar), Pave Maijanen (vocals, bass), Pedro Hietanen (organ, electric piano, piano), Markku Johansson (trumpet, flugelhorn), Erik Dannholm (tenor saxophone, flute), Erkki Lehtola (baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute, triangle), Paavo Honkanen […]
Olli Ahvenlahti (born Aug. 6, 1949) is a Finnish jazz-rock keyboardist who has been active since the early 1970s. In 1975, he participated in the Hi-Hat one-off Uni Sono with Nono Söderberg and Pekka Pohjola. That same year, Ahvenlahti released his first of two popular albums on Love Records. In 1978, he re-teamed with Pohjola […]
Carita Holmström is a Finnish singer/songwriter who made the 1973/74 EMI albums We Are What We Do and Toinen levy. In 1980, she returned with Two Faces, a jazz-folk duo record with contrabassist Teppo Hauta-aho. Background Carita Elisabeth Holmström was born on February 10, 1954, in Helsinki. She learned keyboard through imitation on the home […]
Sarcofagus was a Finnish hard-rock band behind the 1980 albums Cycle of Life and Envoy of Death on JP-Musiikki. Members: Kimmo Kuusniemi (guitar, drums, 1977-present), Juha “Pulla” Kiminki (bass, 1977-present), Esa Kotilainen (keyboards, 1982-present), Ari-Pekka Roitto (drums, 1980), Ronnie Österberg (drums, 1980), Hannu Leidén (vocals, 1977-80), Kai “Sandy” Jansson (drums, 1977) Background Sarcofagus formed in […]
Nono Söderberg is a Finnish guitarist who has been active since the late 1960s. In 1975, he played on the singular, eponymous album by jazz-rock supergroup Uni Sono with pianist Olli Ahvenlahti and bassist Pekka Pohjola. Söderberg released his debut solo album, Nono, in 1976 on Hi-Hat. The follow-up, Rare Bird, appeared in 1982 on Parlovox. […]
Heikki Koskinen — aka Mike Koskinen — is a Finnish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader active in the Finnish jazz scene since the late Sixties. He recorded with Soulset, Eero Koivistoinen, Seppo Paakkunainen, and led his own ensembles for Yleisradio broadcasts in the early Seventies. As a bandleader, Koskinen recorded the 1976 album Sunwebs for Love […]
Eero Koivistoinen (Jan. 13, 1946) is a Finnish jazz-rock saxophonist, composer, and bandleader who first emerged in 1967 as part of the Helsinki blues-rock/psych combo Blues Section. Since 1968, he has released more than 20 albums as a jazz-band leader. His most popular works include the 1973 RCA releases 3rd Version and Wahoo!, as well […]
Elonkorjuu were a Finnish hard-rock band from Pori that was active for two periods during the 1970s. The band’s first grouping produced the 1972 album Harvest Time for Parlophone. In 1978, the reactivated band released Flyin’ High, Runnin’ Fast on RCA Victor. Members: Jukka Syrenius (guitar), Veli-Pekka Pessi (bass, 1969-72, 1976-present), Timo Hannukainen (vocals, 1969), […]
