Pekka Pylkkänen Trio

Born in 1964, saxophonist and composer Pekka Pylkkänen has been recognized as one of the stronger jazz artists and saxophonists in Europe. He has performed around the globe and been very successful not only in Europe, but also for example in Asia and South-America. He has collaborated with numerous prestigious artists in many countries, and continues to work as a soloist/leader, recording artist and educator throughout the world.

During his earlier career he worked several years full-time with the ‘National Jazz Orchestra of Finland’ – UMO Jazz Orchestra, with which he also sometimes performed modern contemporary music, and was often featured as a soloist. Some of the guests for both UMO Jazz Orchestra and Espoo Big Band (another noteable jazz orchestra) included stars such as Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Michael Abene, Mercer Ellington, Dee Dee Bridgewater, etc.

As a leader he has performed in more than 60 countries in Europe, The Americas, all over Asia and also South Africa. He has appeared as a leader/soloist in around 2000 concerts during the last 15+ years, most of them outside Finland. His appearances range from clubs to concert halls and major festivals and TV concerts, such as Hong Kong Jazz Festival, Beijing Jazz Festival, Trondheim Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, National Arts Festival (South Africa), Providencia Festival de Jazz (Santiago, Chile), Yokohama Jazz Promenade, Yarasum Jazz Festival, Beijing Concert Hall, The Spring Hall (Seoul/Korea), EBS, Pescara Jazz, Thailand Intern. Jazz Conference, etc

In addition to his long career as a performing and composing artist, Pekka has led a significant career as an educator, having had several full-time positions in Finland, but also he has held clinics and master classes in more than 80 music universities/ conservatories and colleges around the world.

He has been invited as and Artist-In-Residence in dozens of occasions in for example Finland, Italy, China, Malaysia, Brazil and Portugal as well as have lead numerous Summer Jazz Seminars in Italy as the artistic head.

His earlier releases: ́Pekka Pylkkanen:Pekka’s Tube Factory ́ (1999) and ́Pekka Pylkkanen Tube Factory: Opaque ́ (2001) were released by Naxos Jazz, 3rd album ‘Pekka Pylkkanen Tube Factory:Listen! ́by Lumino Records and (Chinese market) Starsing Records, and 2020 release ‘Pylkkanen:Nu Bottega’ (with an Italian all-star line-up) by Challenge Records International, and the latest album ‘Pekka Pylkkanen & Eric Ineke’ also by Challenge Records (2022 June).

He is a Vandoren artist, and represents Ken Okutsu Mouthpieces and Marmaduke Music accessories.