Joona Toivanen Trio

Arriving from Finland is one of the most stunning and interesting trios on the scene in recent years. The group, led by pianist Joona Toivanen, strikes at first listen; theirs is a new language, capable of adding a new impression, unexpected and illuminating, to the endless literature of the piano trios. The Joona Toivanen Trio breathes in northern European moods that recall the last decade, knowledgeable of those who created their own language of jazz tradition overseas, and with strength and dedication are looking to redefine the boundaries of the trio format.

A study focused on the purity of sound, the melody and lyricism of the instrument, which escapes the stereotypes that previous musicians have already encountered. A discussion among three voices, where top musicians of conservatory structure testify to being one of the brightest new players in the years to come.

Joona Toivanen on the piano, Tapani Toivanen on double-bass and Olavi Louhivuori (who already recorded an album for CAM Jazz with the Sun Trio) find themselves at ease in a joint discussion where the instruments are on equal footing, enhancing a reciprocal listening, interplay and willingness to place oneself at the service of the other.

"The aesthetics, stifled by torpor and chilled by ice, become a qualifying element of the work, even the most significant, by this young Finnish trio. Together with the eulogy of melody, singability of the themes and improvisations. A glorious example of how it is possible to overcome idiosyncrasies with one’s own roots." (F. Scoppio)

"...The audio recording of the ten performances of Joona Toivanen Trio as a whole is excellent. A significant sonic sparkle, a full-bodied tone and the correct placement of the actors in the stage play of the elegant work guarantee a detailed and relaxed listening at the same time. GOOD / EXCELLENT" (2011 January 13 Fedeltà Del Suono - La Bacchetta Magica:
"JOONA TOIVANEN TRIO At My Side " by Francesco Peluso)

"...There is no issue of instrumental mastery, the three are masters of nuance, their tones seem born to be combined, the writing is careful and serves the aim..." (2011 March 24 Jazzit: "JOONA TOIVANEN TRIO At My Side" by (VP))

"...Hearing is believing. In northern Europe, the unfortunate and unforgettable trio EST has found a worthy successor." (2010 November 12 Il Giornale: "A magnificent Finnish trio" by Franco Fayenz)

"After Frost, Joona Toivanen Trio adds dimension to the universe with this beautiful album released by Cam Jazz." (2011 August 6 Jazzques)

"...Pianistin, basistin ja rumpalin yhtye on yksi nykyaikaisen jazzin keskeisimmistä, käytetyimmistä ja kuluneimmista vakiokokoonpanoista - sekä vaateliaimmista, sillä jokaista aloittelijaa verrataan aina edistyneisiin edeltäjiin.
Pianisti Joona Toivasen, basisti Tapani Toivasen ja rumpali Olavi Louhivuoren yhteenliittymällä ei ole enää tätä ongelmaa, sillä kolmentoista vuoden kokemuksella se "kilpailee" lähinnä oman menneisyytensä kanssa. Ja ylittää jälleen itsensä.
Tyylikkääseen sekä yhä syvenevään yhteissoittoon perustuva At My Side on Joona Toivanen Trion edustavin albumi ja omassa sarjassaan parasta pohjoismaista laatuluokkaa..." (Harri Uusitorppa, Helsingin Sanomat)

On 27.3.2006 EMI Music Finland released the Joona Toivanen Trio’s third album internationally on the legendary Blue Note record label.

”The trio’s unique sound is dominated by a certain kind of folk-jazz lucidity. Their Frost album is an entity in which ballads are to the fore and whose fabulous compositions conjure up Finnish melancholy and low-spirited emotions, which doesn’t always need to be a negative thing”, says the album’s producer, J-P Virtanen.

With a characteristic determination the Joona Toivanen Trio chose ambitiously to record their ”Frost” album in a studio located near Gothenburg, Sweden. ”We wanted to put our energy into compositions that work and make our best album ever”, reveals the trio’s lead figure, Joona Toivanen.

The trio’s album ”Frost” has received highly enthusiastic reviews at home in Finland:

”Frost’s strength is the honest, beautiful and juggle-free way in which it’s worked. The album’s music possesses an exceptional ability to express the sort of longing in which melancholy and joy find combination.”
Helsingin Sanomat/Jukka Hauru 18.1.2006

”Courageously beautiful jazz. The trio has an uncanny skill to connect what are essentially elements of traditional jazz to light music. They succeed in turning miniatures into a large fresco, which sounds fantastic and admirably depicts the group’s deep musical landscape.” Suomen Kuvalehti/Petri Sajari 3/2006

”...redolent of Bill Evans, Joona Toivanen’s piano jazz sounds simultaneously fresh and individual, timeless and unbounded.” Keskisuomalainen/Pentti Ronkanen 23.1.2006 *****

”’Frost’ is a coherent and solidly-constructed album, but at the same time it is also understatedly rich in nuances. It sheds light on limpid, melancholy Nordic romance from a variety of different perspectives.” Suomijazz.com/Jukka Piiroinen 1.2.2006 ****

On the album Lumous (meaning enchantment or charm in English) one can again hear the personal sound of Joona Toivanen trio. Playing a sort of modern Nordic style jazz the group is known from their delicate teamwork and highly personal original compositions. The strong feelings, lyrical melodies and the poetic quality of the music can be heard from this album as well as on the trio’s live performances. Lumous consists of Joona Toivanen’s and Olavi Louhivuori’s original compositions that can be described diversified but clear, melancholy but yet full of hope and peace.

The trio’s first album Numurkah, released in 2000, literally took the group to the world: the doors were opened to France, Greece, Sweden, Norway as well as Iceland, where they won the 1st prize of a Nordic jazz competition in the autumn of 2000. The album also raised interest in Japan, where it was released by the production and distribution company Sawano Shokai. In Finland Numurkah was chosen as a jazz CD of the month by a Finnish broadcasting company and received excellent critics from both media and the public.