Known for his creative and visionary playing and refined pianism, Juho Valjakka is among the most sought-after young Finnish jazz pianists. Over the course of his career, Valjakka has performed with leading ensembles (including Lassy–Eskola Nordic Stew, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, Riikka Keränen, and Tuomas Paukku Scription) and appeared at major Finnish festivals as well as renowned jazz clubs across Europe.
Founded in 2018 together with double bassist Oskari Siirtola and drummer Anssi Tirkkonen, the Juho Valjakka Trio focuses mainly on the pianist’s own compositions and has received praise for its elegant, polished expression and rich palette of tones. The trio’s debut album, Liminal Spaces (2022), reflecting Valjakka’s experiences as a young artist, was nominated for the Jazz Emma Award.
On their new album Lines in Patterns, the trio immerses itself—through effortlessly flowing interplay—into Valjakka’s harmonically rich compositions and interprets two pieces by pianist Bill Evans, an important influence for Valjakka. The album captures both the linear and cyclic aspects of life, heard in the trio’s freely streaming improvisation and intriguingly evolving musical forms.
Juho Valjakka: piano
Oskari Siirtola: double bass
Anssi Tirkkonen: drums
Photo: Nawras Odda
The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden and The Finnish Music Foundation.
Hakasalmen huvila • Mannerheimintie 13 B, 00100 Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
