ABOUT
“Teemu’s compositions and piano playing are a pure delight: adventurous with syncopated surprise. ”
Jazz pianist & composer Teemu Kekkonen creates musical adventures that are like short films. An introvert by nature, Teemu writes songs that blend meditative storytelling with the restless pull of wanderlust. His music offers listeners space to look inward.
Teemu grew up in the dense pine forests of Finland, where long walks in the woods, nights in the sauna, and summers spent swimming in serene lakes were part of everyday life. Now living in the flat landscapes of the Netherlands, he searches for that same stillness—even as the buzzing city of Amsterdam calls him to be more of an extrovert.
Photography © Georgina Abreu
Teemu draws inspiration from a wide range of influences — the American Songbook, Japanese video games of his childhood and Hollywood films, as well as from the heavier textures of prog rock acts such as Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. While his music is rooted strongly in jazz improvisation, it resides in its own category.
His debut album Here/There (2022), recorded with bassist Mikael Saastamoinen and drummer Roope Kantonen features seven original pieces tied to real-life stories and moments from the past decade. The CD edition also features a version of Matkustaja (traveller in Finnish), a well-known pop song by the Finnish band Egotrippi.
He previously performed with Mikko Sarvanne Hip Company and has appeared at festivals and venues including Jazzahead! (2023), Bimhuis (2020), Viapori Jazz (2016), Oslo Jazz Festival (2015) and Pori Jazz (2014).
MUSIC
Here/therE
ALBUM - 2022
Grounded by thoughtful composition ‘Here/There’ takes the listener on a series of musical adventures; improvisatory journeys which rise from warm, familiar melodies and subtle lilting grooves and cacophonous trio passages complete with rhythmic interplay and ear-catching effects.
Whilst the music gives more than a passing nod to modern influences like Vijay Iyer, Brad Mehldau and The Bad Plus, Teemu’s openness to everything from Ravel to pop, gospel and traditional Finnish music provides a highly individual twist on the classic trio format, for an experience that is equally calming and exhilarating.
Teemu Kekkonen - piano
Mikael Saastamoinen - bass
Roope Kantonen - drums
Released Sep 16, 2022
EP - 2021
Recorded live at the Bimhuis in December 2020.
Teemu Kekkonen - piano & compositions
Daniel Nagel - bass
Roope Kantonen - drums
Trio live at bimhuis
