Kokko Quartet

Kokko Quartet presents an exciting blend of jazz and world music influences. Carrying Nordic qualities at heart, the group draws influences from Indian and Arabic music as well as Cuban rhythms, thus creating a distinctive overall sound. In Finnish Kalevala mythology ”kokko” refers to a gigantic eagle, a mythical creature of the air having many forms as does the music of Kokko Quartet.

Established in 2010 and led by pianist Johanna Pitkänen, this Helsinki-based group performs songs written by Pitkänen, saxophone player Kaisa Siirala and bass player Timo Tuppurainen. Together with drummer Risto Takala, the four musicians move through the music with a spirit of great freedom in their interplay. The quartet’s debut album Like a River was released in March 2013. On the album the quartet is joined by two guest musicians, Ricardo Padilla on percussion and Mikko Koivisto on tabla drums on the title track.

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