Jukka Tolonen
Encyclopedia
Jukka Tolonen is a Finnish
jazz
guitarist
. Tolonen became famous as guitarist for the band Tasavallan Presidentti
. While making several solo albums and projects he also played on albums Tombstone Valentine (1970) and Fairyport (1971) by Wigwam
.
Tolonen is a virtuoso guitarist who is highly respected in his native Finland as well as in Sweden
where he has lived for long periods. Among Tolonen's side projects are Guitarras Del Norte, Trio Tolonen, and Jukka Tolonen Band (JTB). He has used many different guitars over the years, such as the Gibson
ES-335 and Ibanez
Artist. Since the 90's he has used Finnish handmade instruments by Ruokangas Guitars
(electric) and Lottonen Guitars (acoustic).
Tolonen contributed to Six Complete (2006), the latest album by Tasavallan Presidentti.
In May 2008 Tolonen was found guilty of stabbing his girlfriend and was sentenced to 27 months in jail for aggravated assault. When released in 2010 he told the media that he was quitting guitar playing due to osteoarthritis. While in prison Jukka Tolonen dedicated his life to Jesus Christ, and in 2011 he released "Juudan Leijona" ("Lion of Judah"), a CD of traditional Finnish hymns in which he sings and plays piano, occasionally accompanied by other instruments and voices.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. Tolonen became famous as guitarist for the band Tasavallan Presidentti
Tasavallan Presidentti
Tasavallan Presidentti is a Finnish progressive rock band. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Jukka Tolonen and drummer Vesa Aaltonen. Other founder members were Måns Groundstroem and Frank Robson , previously of Blues Section...
. While making several solo albums and projects he also played on albums Tombstone Valentine (1970) and Fairyport (1971) by Wigwam
Wigwam (progressive rock)
Wigwam is a Finnish progressive rock band formed in 1968.Wigwam was founded after the split of the seminal Blues Section, with whom drummer Ronnie Österberg had played before. He formed the band as a trio, but soon brought in British expatriate singer/songwriter Jim Pembroke and organist Jukka...
.
Tolonen is a virtuoso guitarist who is highly respected in his native Finland as well as in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
where he has lived for long periods. Among Tolonen's side projects are Guitarras Del Norte, Trio Tolonen, and Jukka Tolonen Band (JTB). He has used many different guitars over the years, such as the Gibson
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
ES-335 and Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
Artist. Since the 90's he has used Finnish handmade instruments by Ruokangas Guitars
Ruokangas Guitars
Ruokangas Guitars builds solid-body and semi-hollow electric guitars, including models such as Duke, VSOP, Mojo, Hellcat and Unicorn. The company builds guitars using traditional methods – no modern computer controlled machinery etc....
(electric) and Lottonen Guitars (acoustic).
Tolonen contributed to Six Complete (2006), the latest album by Tasavallan Presidentti.
In May 2008 Tolonen was found guilty of stabbing his girlfriend and was sentenced to 27 months in jail for aggravated assault. When released in 2010 he told the media that he was quitting guitar playing due to osteoarthritis. While in prison Jukka Tolonen dedicated his life to Jesus Christ, and in 2011 he released "Juudan Leijona" ("Lion of Judah"), a CD of traditional Finnish hymns in which he sings and plays piano, occasionally accompanied by other instruments and voices.
Discography
- Tasavallan PresidenttiTasavallan PresidenttiTasavallan Presidentti is a Finnish progressive rock band. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Jukka Tolonen and drummer Vesa Aaltonen. Other founder members were Måns Groundstroem and Frank Robson , previously of Blues Section...
- Tasavallan Presidentti (1969) - WigwamWigwam (progressive rock)Wigwam is a Finnish progressive rock band formed in 1968.Wigwam was founded after the split of the seminal Blues Section, with whom drummer Ronnie Österberg had played before. He formed the band as a trio, but soon brought in British expatriate singer/songwriter Jim Pembroke and organist Jukka...
- Tombstone Valentine (1970) - Wigwam - Fairyport (1970)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Magneettimiehen kuolema (With Pekka StrengPekka StrengPekka Valter Mattias Streng was a Finnish musician who had a notable influence on progressive rock in Finland....
) (1970) - Jukka Tolonen - Tolonen! (1971)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Tasavallan Presidentti (II) (1971)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Lambertland (1972)
- Jukka Tolonen - Summer Games (1972)
- Jukka Tolonen - The HookThe Hook (album)The Hook is the third studio album by guitarist Jukka Tolonen, released in 1972 through Love Records. Both this and Tolonen's fourth album, Hysterica , were reissued together as a remastered compilation album in 1994 through Siboney Records....
(1972) - Nordic Jazz Quintet - Nordic Jazz Quintet (1972)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Milky Way Moses (1974)
- Jukka Tolonen - HystericaHysterica (album)Hysterica is the fourth studio album by guitarist Jukka Tolonen, released in 1974 through Love Records. Both this and Tolonen's third album, The Hook , were reissued together as a remastered compilation album in 1994 through Siboney Records....
(1974) - Jukka Tolonen - Crossection (1974)
- Eero Koivistoinen - The Front is Breaking (1975)
- Charlie Mariano - Reflections (1975)
- Jukka Tolonen Band - A Passenger to Paramaribo (1975)
- Jukka Tolonen - Impressions (1975)
- Jukka Tolonen Band - Montreux Boogie Live (1977)
- Jukka Tolonen/Christian Sievert - After Three Days (1977)
- Jukka Tolonen Band - JTB Jukka Tolonen - Mountain Stream 1978
- Jukka Tolonen - High Flyin (1979)
- Jukka Tolonen Band / JTB - Just Those Boys (1979)
- JTB - Dums Have More Fun (1980)
- Jukka Tolonen/Coste Apetrea - Touch Wood (1980)
- Oreo Moon Walk - Don't Scream (1981)
- Jukka Tolonen - In a This Year Time (1981)
- Tolonen/Apetrea - Blue Rain (1982)
- Bill's Boogie Band - Live and Lively at Cafe Metropol Helsinki (1985)
- Jukka Tolonen - Radio Romance (1985)
- Tolonen/Christian Sievert - Still Friends (1986)
- Piirpauke - Zerenade (1987)
- Jukka Tolonen Classics - The Rarest (1989)
- Jukka Tolonen Trio - Last Mohican (1990)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Classics (compilation) (1990)
- Jukka Tolonen Trio - Big Time (1994)
- Pedro's Heavy Gentlemen - Reggae (1996)
- Jukka Tolonen - On The Rocky Road - A Retrospective (1997)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Still Struggling For Freedom (2001)
- Guitarras del Norte – Guitarras del Norte (2004)
- Jukka Tolonen - Cool Train – Tolonen plays ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
(2004) - Eddie Boyd in Finland – Mello’ Hello! (2005)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Tasavallan Presidentti Six (2005, EP)
- Tasavallan Presidentti - Six Complete (2006)
- Jukka Tolonen - Juudan Leijona (2011)