Finnish jazz pianist & composer Teemu Kekkonen is a rising star in the European scene. Thoughtfully crafted compositions, cinematic harmonies, captivating grooves and familiar melodies are the cornerstones of his music.
Teemu strives create musical adventures which evoke emotions and diverse moods and bases his improvisations on the thematic material of the piece at hand, sometimes transforming it to raw and rugged cacophony, at times to a calm and collected contemplation.
Following the release of his 2021 four-track EP “Trio Live at Bimhuis”, Teemu self-released his debut album Here/There on September 16th 2022 with compatriots Mikael Saastamoinen (bass) and Roope Kantonen (drums). Behind the seven original pieces are real-life stories from the past ten years.
Raised on his father’s record collection, Teemu spent his early years listening to jazz pianists such as Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson, as well as homegrown heroes such as Iiro Rantala. At 13, after discovering the music of Chick Corea, Teemu made the decision to pursue a career in music. Later significant influences were such jazz pianists as Tigran Hamasyan and Brad Mehldau, as well as composers Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Joe Hisaishi. Teemu has always been equally drawn towards the distorted sounds of prog rock and metal acts like Porcupine Tree, Ayreon and Dream Theater.
In 2017 Teemu created the score for the short film “Hetkessä - In the Moment”, directed by Niikka Makkonen.
Teemu spent the 2010s playing piano in Mikko Sarvanne Hip Company, studying jazz & classical music and composition in Helsinki and Amsterdam Conservatories. During this time he recorded albums with Hip Company and other groups. Significant performances include Oslo Jazz Festival (2014), Pori Jazz Festival (2015), Viapori Jazz (2015), Bimhuis (2020) and Jazzahead! Finnish Clubnight in Bremen (2023).
Currently Teemu is based in Amsterdam, composes new music for trio and new ensembles and also shoots photos professionally.
