Jussi Kannaste

Jussi Kannaste (b. 1976) is one of the most original saxophonists in Finland. He creatively combines an elegant taste of jazz with a strong expression and a fluent technique. His interpretations are powerful, where every musical thought has a beautiful swinging outcome. Jussi Kannaste performs extensively in Finland and abroad. He is a leader of two groups; Kannaste-Viinikainen-Riippa Trio, and K/O/Q, as well as appearing as sideman in numerous other groups, for example the Jaska Lukkarinen Trio.

Jussi has played with top Finnish jazz musicians such as; Jukkis Uotila, Jukka Perko, Heikki Sarmanto, Verneri Pohjola, Alexi Tuomarila, Mikko Innanen, Teppo Mäkynen as well as with well known international names like; Daniel Humair, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Maria Schneider and David Liebman. He has played and toured in Estonia, France, Sweden, Belgium, Syria, Germany, Brazil, US and Asia with various groups and artists.

Currently Jussi Kannaste is lecturer, and the head of the jazz department at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

Hans Olding

Hans Olding (b. 1975)  is one of Sweden’s most active and well-known jazz guitarists and has been heard on stages around Europe and the rest of the world during the last ten years. He has toured and played concerts with internationally well-known musicians like Daniel Humair (FRA), Francesco Bearzatti (ITA), Idriss Boudrioua (BRA), Mikko Innanen (FIN), Karl-Martin Almqvist (SWE), Magnus Broo (SWE), Fredrik Norén (SWE), Håkon Mjåset (NOR) to mention a few, and received several grants for performance and composition as well as recording three critics acclaimed albums as a leader/co-leader for El Dingo Records.

His own groups includes his own quartet, the Hans Olding Quartet, A Le Coq Quartet (co-lead w/ trumpeter Nils Janson) and a new collective group with Swedes; Karl-Martin Almqvist, Martin Sjöstedt and Finnish drummer Jaska Lukkarinen. Tours in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Spain, Germany, France, Brazil, Poland, Syria, USA etc.

Hans is a graduate from the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm and the CNSM de Paris.