Antti Rissanen Biography

Profile
Trombonist-Conductor, Composer-Arranger, Lecturer

Short version:

Antti Rissanen divides his time working as a trombonist and a conductor and an educator. As a trombonist has won numerous different prizes and held the position of being the number 1 Finnish jazz trombone player by the critics poll at the Finnish Jazz Rytmit Maganize for several years (2002-20010). He has studied in Berlin with Prof. Jiggs Whigham and at the New School University in USA with Conrad Herwig. He graduated from the jazz department of Sibelius-Academy in 2001 and now is working for the doctorate. As a conductor-arranger he annually freelances a great number of concerts of different kinds with big bands and Symphony Orchestras. Just recently in August of 2010 he started as a chief conductor for a Moscow based "George Garanian" big band. From 2009 he has been an artistic director of The Great Helsinki Swing big Band. As an educator he works primary at the Sibelius-Academy, but also at the Metropolia and Helsinki Pop&Jazz Convervatory. Also being a part of the Imatra big band festival as a festival member of the artistic commite and as a head of the summer camp, he constantly builds up new projects for all sorts of festival use.

Long version:

Antti Rissanen is one of the few jazz trombonists in Europe, who works internationally with multiple orchestras as a soloist and conductor. He is a long time student of Mr. Conrad Herwig and Mr. Jiggs Whigham via The New School University and "Hanns Eisler" Hochschule für Musik Berlin, from where he graduated with top honours in 1997. He graduated from Sibelius-Academy in 2001 where he is currently working on a doctorate research.

Antti started playing the piano at age of six and improvising and composing at age of seven. At 9 he started playing euphonium, which he changed to trombone at age of 14. His international career took off after winning the second prize in Frankfurt radio's Big Band composing contest in 1995 in Germany. In 1998 he won the Frank Rosolino Jazz trombone competition, arranged by International Trombone Association. In 2001 he won the first price at the "Rich Matteson" Jazz Competition at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Lahti, Finland. In 2002 he was chosen the brass player of the year 2002 by the Lieksa Brass Week. In 2006 he led the Stadia big band to win the Finnish big band competition and the same with Sibelius-Academy big band in 2008. In 2008 he got a special award at the 1st K.H.Pentti composing contest by the Guard's Wind Orchestra in Helsinki. Summer of 2008 he was also awarded the 1st IBBF Award by the Imatra Big Band Festival.

Antti is well-known for his activity with big band music. As a conductor he conducts in average 70 big band concerts a year and performs regularly with the Finnish Umo Jazz Orchestra for national and international audiences. Recently in August 2010 he started as a chief conductor for a Moscow-based "George Garanian" big band. He acts as the president of the Finnish big band association and a member of the Imatra big band festival's board of advisors. He is also the president of Imatra big band festival's big band summer camp and the vice-president of the Finnish Trombone and tuba society. As a conductor of the Finnish all star junior big band he has a great touch on the national new generation of jazz lions. Regular engagements as a conductor include also the Great Helsinki Swing big band, the Imatra big band, Metropolia big band, Sibelius-Academy big band and Vuoksi Brass. By this date he has worked with quite a large scale of European big bands, see the listed band details.

All together he has been involved with more than 50 recordings. As a leader he has recorded three CDs with his group Mr Fonebone, which consists of award winning players of Finnish jazz scene. Debut is CD is called "Mr Fonebone" (ARFCD 1997) and the second CD is entitled "Mr Fonebone Live" 2001 (TEXCD 3000). This features trumpet player Ingrid Jensen. The Third CD of the group, "Hit & Run" was released in 2008. Another international small group of his called Nordic Project, co-leader with Ted Trimble, released the Nordic Project CD with Gene Calderazzo and Jarmo Savolainen in 2004.

He has worked widely around Europe. In recent years he has worked with Claudio Roditi, Benny Golson, Dave Weckle, Bill Evans, John Fedchock, Mike Abene, Magnus Broo, Lenny Picket, Dick Oatts, Bill Watrous, Jimmy Smith, Charles Tolliver, Randy Brecker, Jack Walrath, Ingrid Jensen, Jiggs Whigham and Peter Herbolzheimer to name a few international musicians.

Antti Rissanen plays the Jiggs Whigham model King Silver Sonic (2b) slide trombone with a Sterling bell and fully compensated
Miraphone Euphonium by the Miraphone Company.

Some Orchestras The most recent active groups: UMO Jazz Orchestra, Riku Niemi Orchestra (RNO), Sami Pitkämön orkesteri, Paula Koivuniemi, Dallape, Jussi Lampelan Nonetti, Antin HOT5, Antti Rissanen Jukebox Band and Mr Fonebone. Regular engagements s a conductor: George Garanian big band (Moscow), The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band (Helsinki), Sibelius-Academy big band (Helsinki), Metropolia Big Band (Helsinki) Finnish All Star Junior Big Band (Finland), Imatra Big Band (Imatra)
International (as a guest musician)	Finnish (as a quest conductor/soloist)
George Garanian big band (Moscow, Russia) WDR Big Band (Köln, Germany) Charles Tolliver Big Band (New York) Charles Mingus Big Band (New York) Charli Percip Supersound Big Band (New York) RIAS Big Band Berlin (Germany) NDR Big Band Hamburg (Germany) Bundes Jazz Orchestra (Germany) European Youth Jazz Orchestra (Denmark) Socrates Big Band (the Netherlands)) Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra (Austria) Lungau Big Band (Austria) The Budapest Jazz Orchestra (Hungary) Tallinn Polizei Big Band (Estonia) United Jazz Band Berlin (Germany) MI22 (Denmark)	Vantaa POPS Orchestra Turku Philharmonic Orchestra Oulu Sinfonietta Kuopio Philharmonic Orchestra Seinäjoen kaupunginorkesteri Kymi Sinfonietta Umo Jazz Orchestra Metropolia Orchestra Ilmavoimien big band Kotka Big Band Lahti Big Band Joensuu Conservatory Big Band Kvarken Big Band Botnia Big Band Anjalankoski Big Band Grani Big Band Finnish Big Band Association Big Band IBBF Big Band Porvoo Big Band Fort Big Band Jyväskylä Big Band Pohjantien Big Band The Dragoon Band Savonlinna Big Band Kainuun Prikaatin Big Band Hämeenlinna Big Band	2002

Selected tours and performances internationally All together some 25 countries

2010 Russia, tour with George Garanian big band around Caucasus 2009 Germany, Tour WDR big band and Bill Evans, Dave Weckle and Mark Egan 2008 Paris, France, UMO Jazz Orchestra 2008 Estonia, Mr Fonebone 2007 Tour with Nordic Tuba and beats in Sweden 2007 IAEJ in New York, NYC 2007 Midem Music Market Happening, France 2006 Tour in South-Africa, Imatra Big Band 2006 Tour with Finnish Jazz Messangers and Charles Tolliver in Finland 2006 Tour in England and Ireland, Umo Jazz Orchestra 2005 Tour with Imatra Big Band in Hungary 2005 The ITAE Conference in Budabest, Hungary 2005 Tour with UMO Jazz Orchestra in the Netherlands 2005 Tour with UMO Jazz Orchestra in Finland 2004 Tour with Nordic Project in Finland 2004 Tour in Finland with the Tribute to Jaco Pastorius 2004 Tour In Germany with Imatra Big Band 2003 Tour in Brazil as a soloist of Imatra Big Band 2002 Tourin Austria with Lungau Big Band and Randy Brecker 2002 Tour in Finland as a soloist for Kvarken Big Band 2001 Tour in Cuba as a soloist and composer for jyväskylä Big band 2001 Tour in Finland with Austrian Heavy tuba, Jon Sass and Dorretta Carter 2001 Tour in Finland with Mr Fonebone and Ingrid Jensen 2000 Tour in Austria with Heavy Tuba, Jon Sass and Dorretta Carter 2000 Recording tour w/Jack Walrath and Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra 1999 Recording tour w/Ingrid Jensen in Finland, Mr Fonebone 1999 Tour in Finland and Iceland with Mr Fonebone 1999 Tour in Finland with The Nordic Jazz trombone Quartet 1998 Tour around Europe (Baltic Sea) with EYJO Orchestra 1998 The International Trombone Association Festival Colorado, USA 1998 Tour in Finland Mr Fonebone, Finnish jazz federation 1997 Tour in South-Africa with BUJAZZO Jazz Orchestra 1997 Tour with jazz quintet Mr Fonebone 1996 Tour in Germany with BUJAZZO Jazz Orchestra 1995 Tour in France with Northern Lights big band	1998

Profile Some Orchestras Some Tours Honours Working with Some Festivals Some Compositions Some Recordings Memberships	ANTTI RISSANEN	Suomeksi (vanha)
		Updated: 1/2011

Some Recordings
Radio, TV and CDs
2010 CD: Umo Jazz Orchestra Plays Pekka Pohjola, CD:Gebardi XXL, YLE1: Umo Plays Stravinsky "Ebony Concerto", CD: Big Bang, YLE1: Umo and women in jazz, CD: Mariska ja pahat sudet, TV2/CD: The Great Helsinki Swing big band "Santa Claus Christmas Concert", MTV3: Tanssi tähtien kanssa, YLE1: Umo ja Big Band elokuvissa 2009 TV2: Santa Christmas Concert, Turku Philharmonic and Antti Rissanen play "White Christmas", Riku Niemi Orchestra (Valkea Ruusu), TV2: Paulu Koivuniemi Juhlakonsertti Tampere-talossa 21.11., TV1: Kerkko Koskinen "Slaavilaiset laulut", YLE1: Umo and Vellu Halkosalmi, CD: Isän kädestä - Veljekset Chydenius, CD: Slaavilaiset laulut-Kerkko Koskinen, YLE1: Umo ja Kalle Kalima 2008 TV1: The Golden Trombone -documentary of Antti Rissanen, TV2: Rauno Lehtinen Gaala-UMO Jazz Orchestra, YLE1: UMO ja Ville Rusanen, DVD/MTV3: Riku Niemi Orchestra - Vihdoinkin!, YLE1: UMO Plays Woody Herman, CD: UMO-Mikko Hassinen, YLE1: UMO plays Jaco Pastorius, CD: Kerkko Koskinen -Othello, YLE1: Black Spirituals, UMO, CD: UMO on UMO, YLE1: UMO Meets Sibis, YLE1: Soul Night-Alx Smith, Tuomo, Osmo Ikonen, YLE1: Mr Fonebone with Magnus Broo, YLE1: Umo and Nelson Faria, CD: Dingo kokoelma -Riku Niemi Orchestra 2007 CD: UMO "Agatha", CD: Mr Fonebone " Hit & Run", CD: Mp4, EBU Radio: Music of Ira Haarla, YLE1: Music Mikko Hassinen, CD: The Great Helsinki Swing big band: In the Glenn Miller Mood, CD: Nat New Born Big Time, YLE1: UMO and the Radio Symphony Orchestra 2006 YLE teema: Helsinki Brass Band, CD: Stadia big band, YLE1: Umo ja Tim Hagans ja Scott Kinley, CD: Universal artist Illi ”Hukkaa päivä”, TV2: Riku Niemi Orchestra, Ikaalinen ”Valkoinen ruusu”, MTV3: Riku Niemi Orchestra, Krisse Show, YLE1: UMO Silent Music, Iro Haarla, CD: Finnish Junior All Star Big Band, YLE1: Mr Fonebone, MTV3: Riku Niemi Orchestra 2005 YLE: UMO 30 years Jubileum concert; YLE: UMO and Jukka Perko, YLE: UMO and Joe Lovano; YLE: UMO and Mike Gibbs; YLE: UMO Silent Music; CD: UMO Sauna palaa; YLE: UMO and Ingrid Jensen; YLE: UMO and Jere Laukkanen; TV2: Umo and Satu Sopanen; YLE: UMO and Pentti Lahti; YLE: UMO ja Jukka Gustavsson 2004 CD: ITF2003 jazz concert recording, CD: MP4 Central Playa, CD: Adult Nut House - Sam Huber, CD: Nordic Project, YLE1: UMO & Paroni Paakkunainen, YLE1: UMO & Gustavo Bergalli, YLE1: UMO & Drummers Association Finland 2003 YLE1: UMO and music of Louis Pasquet; MTV3: UMO, Leningrad Cowboys Global Balalaikka Show; YLE1: UMO and ITF2003 soloists; YLE1: UMO, Silent Music with Jouko Harjanne	1996
2002 YLE1: Teemu Salminen septet; YLE1: UMO and Kornel Fekete-Kovac (live); YLE1: UMO, Silent Music feat. jouko Harjanne (live); YLE1: UMO, Calderazzo, Trimble and Rissanen (live); YLE1: Gene Calderazzo, Ted Trimble, Jarmo Savolainen and Antti Rissanen; YLE1: UMO, Musica Nova (live); YLE1: UMO and Maria Schneider (live); YLE1: UMO and young soloists (live); YLE1: UMO Plays Salsa (live) 2001 TV1: Jazz Act Mr Fonebone; CD: MI22 Big band feat. Antti Rissanen, Denmark; CD: Mr Fonebone Live featuring Ingrid Jensen; CD: Eero Koivistoinen and Galaxy 2000 YLE1: UMO Plays Antti Rissanen & Peppe Jalava (live); YLE1: YLE Workshop, Finland-Hungary jazz project; EBU radio: Jim Beard workshop (live); CD: Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra feat. Jack Walrath (forthcoming); CD: Joey Morant septet, New York (forthcoming); CD: Sibelius-Academy Jazz: Play modes (Mr Fonebone); YLE1: UMO Celebration of 25 years e.g. Rich Shemaria (live); YLE1: UMO and Larry Cornell (live); YLE1: UMO and Thoots Thielemans (live); YLE1: The Nordic Jazz Trombone quartet 1999 YLE1: Mr Fonebone jazz quintet; CD: Umo Jazz Orchestra plays Antti Sarpila 1998 CD: European Youth Jazz orchestra (live); TV2: Finnish Jazz Series presents Mr Fonebone (60min.); TV1 Saturday morning presents Mr Fonebone (10min.); CD: Warner records pop artist Aki Viitasalo; YLE1: UMO plays Finnish big band music (live); CD: Kai Pahlman And Friends; YLE1: UMO and Bill Holman (live) 1997 CD: German All State Jazz Orchestra "Focus On Vocals"; CD: Mr Fonebone: "Mr Fonebone" (leader); YLE1: Mr Fonebone jazz quintet; CD: RIAS Big Band Berlin plays Helmut Brandt; YLE1: Live concert Mr Fonebone from Chamos Jazz Festival; YLE1: UMO plays Music of Steely Dan (live) 1996 Deutschland radio: Antti Rissanen quartet (live); YLE1: Jim McNeely Tentet in Helsinki (live); YLE: Antti's Four Trombone Band; YLE1: UMO and Young Talents 1995 YLE1:jazz quintet Analemma Orchestra; CD: Sibelius-Academy: "Sounds In The Snow"( Mr Fonebone) 1994 TV1: Antti Rissanen quintet (live); TV1: Jazz Concert "Blue Harbour"

Working with

Recently worked and performed with Claudio Roditi, Benny Golson, Bill Evans, Dave Weckle, Mark Egan, Mike Abene, John Fedchock, Lenny Picket, Charles Tolliver, Magnus Broo, Bill Watrous, Dick Oatts, Ingrid Jensen, Jimmy Smith, Jim McNeely, Tim Hagans, John Taylor, Kenny Garret, Jim Beard, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Conrad Herwig, Jack Walrath, Jiggs Whigham, Peter Herbolzheimer, Bill Holman, Maria Schneider, Palle Mikkelborg, Thooths Thielemans, Ted Trimble, Gene Calderazzo, Eero Koivistoinen, Jukkis Uotila, Jukka Perko, Severi Pyysalo and Jukka Linkola. Productions with Finnish artists Paula Koivuniemi, Koop Arponen, Tapani Kansa, Kari Tapio, Arja Koriseva, Paleface, Pepe Willberg, Sonja Lumme, Laura Voutilainen, Axl Smith, Mariska, Annimaria Rinne, Gary Revel Junior, Juki Väkipakka, Pepe Ahlqvist, Erja Lyytinen, Kari Fall. Associated with teaching Sibelius-Academy (2005-), The Helsinki Metropolia (2000-), The Pop&Jazz Concervatory of Helsinki (2000-), Music Institute of Imatra (2003-).	1997