Eero
Koivistoinen (b. Jan 13, 1946),
saxopohone player (tenor and soprano) composer, arranger, conductor and
educator. Koivistoinen is one of the
most renowned Finnish jazz musicians of all time, has been a mainstay of the
Finnish music scene since the mid-1960s.
In
1967, Koivistoinen received the very first Georgie Award granted by the
newly-founded Finnish Jazz Federation. Since then, he has won several
competitions for musicians and composers both in Finland and abroad.
Eero’s
quartet won the First Prize in Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, 1969 for
jazz ensembles. This gave his quatet an opportunity to perform at the Newport
Jazz Festival in the US. He won the Arranger’s prize in Nordring Competition
1981 organized by European Broadcast Union (EBU) in Jersey.
In
the early 70’s Koivistoinen refined his skills in classical composition at
Sibelius-Academy with composer Aulis Sallinen. Later he studied at Berklee
College of Music, USA with Herb Pomeroy and Joe Viola.
Koivistoinen
has also been awarded a 15-year government grant for artists.
Koivistoinen
is a founding member of the UMO Jazz Orchestra, and also served as its Artistic
Director in 1996–98. In addition to Finland, he has conducted in countries such
as Germany, Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Iceland, South Africa
and Japan.
He
has performed as a jazz saxophone player in most European countries,
USA,
Japan, Russia and Africa. He has produced among others 4 CD’s of African music
for Naxos World in Mozambique and South Africa and lectured in many African
Universities.
Koivistoinen’s
oeuvre includes hundreds of works, including instrumental music for ensembles
of various sizes and vocal music. Among recent larger works are Round about
Monk, an orchestral suite based on themes by Thelonious Monk commissioned
by the RSO (Radio Symphony Orchestra); Baltic Blues – a multimedia work
commissioned by the Kymi Sinfonietta; and Ville and Valle, a children’s
song album commissioned by the UMO Jazz Orchestra (Emma Award 2014).
Koivistoinen
has made two recordings session in New York City, USA.
Picture
In Three Colours album 1983 was with Tom Harrell trp, Jim McNeely piano, John
Scofield gtr, Ron McClure bass and Jack DeJohnette drs.
Altered
Things album 1992 was with Randy Brecker trp, Conrad Herwig trb, John Scofield
gtr, Dave Kikoski piano, Ron McClure bass and Jack DeJohnette drs. Bill
Milkowski of Down Beat granted four and a half star to this album and wrote:
“But a cursory listening to Altered Things reveals that these musicians were
motivated by more than just funding. Koivistoinen happens to be a first-rate
composer, an arranger of the highest order, and a strong improviser on
tenor.”
2012
US rap-artist J.Cole sampled Eero’s composition Bells for his Breakdown track
on Cole’s Sideline Story album that was number one on Billboard magazine’s
album chart.
Koivistoinen
has many original compositions and arrangements for Big Band.
Koivistoinen
has a large Discography with 26 recording of his own.
www.eerokoivistoinen.com
