Sami Kuoppamäki
Encyclopedia
Sami Kuoppamäki is a Finnish
drummer
who has been a very prolific jazz and popular music session musician after the break-up of his early-90s band, Kingston Wall
. His current, most active group in which he plays in is called Zook
. The band also includes ex-Kingston Wall bassist
Jukka Jylli
.
band Stratovarius
, for the recording of their third studio album, Dreamspace (his contribution can be heard on five of the album's songs). This was due to regular drummer Tuomo Lassila suffering from an arm injury.
In 2000-2001 Kuoppamäki played drums in the house band of the Finnish TV show Hotelli Sointu.
In 2003 he played session drums for Apocalyptica
for the album Reflections
, although the major credits for the drum recordings are given to Slayer
's Dave Lombardo
. After his participation, Apocalyptica hired Mikko Siren
as permanent drum player.
In 2006 he played drums for Von Hertzen Brothers
for their second album Approach
.
In 2007 & 2011 he played drums in the live band of the Finnish Idols
TV-show's finals.
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...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who has been a very prolific jazz and popular music session musician after the break-up of his early-90s band, Kingston Wall
Kingston Wall
Kingston Wall was a psychedelic/progressive rock group from Helsinki, Finland, originally formed in 1987. Influenced by such artists as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, the group combined eastern themes, mysticism and vivid psychedelia with acid-rock.The band consisted of Petri Walli ,...
. His current, most active group in which he plays in is called Zook
Zook (band)
Zook is a Finnish rock band based in Helsinki, Finland. Their debut album, Root Canal Recovery, was released in January 2006. It charted at number 27 on the Finnish Top-40 charts....
. The band also includes ex-Kingston Wall bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jukka Jylli
Jukka Jylli
Jukka Kalevi Jylli is a Finnish bass-player who played in a band called Kingston Wall.After Kingston Wall was disbanded, he played in a group called Saunabadh.At the same time as his rock career flourished Jylli was also active in the Helsinki pub music scene, playing with the pioneering...
.
Session work
In 1994 Kuoppamäki played session drums as a stand-in for the popular power metalPower metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
, for the recording of their third studio album, Dreamspace (his contribution can be heard on five of the album's songs). This was due to regular drummer Tuomo Lassila suffering from an arm injury.
In 2000-2001 Kuoppamäki played drums in the house band of the Finnish TV show Hotelli Sointu.
In 2003 he played session drums for Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
for the album Reflections
Reflections (Apocalyptica album)
Reflections is the fourth studio album of Finnish metal band Apocalyptica, released in 2003 with a special-edition entitled Reflections Revised released in the later part of 2003 containing a DVD as well as the original album with five bonus tracks. It is the first album from the band to include...
, although the major credits for the drum recordings are given to Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
's Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with American thrash metal band Slayer. He has performed with Slayer on seven albums, including their groundbreaking 1986 release Reign In Blood and their 2006 release Christ Illusion, for which he received critical praise...
. After his participation, Apocalyptica hired Mikko Siren
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
as permanent drum player.
In 2006 he played drums for Von Hertzen Brothers
Von Hertzen Brothers
Von Hertzen Brothers is a Finnish prog-related rock band consisting of the three von Hertzen brothers, citing bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Kingston Wall as their influences. Each of the brothers have played in many popular Finnish rock bands. Kie played in Don Huonot,...
for their second album Approach
Approach (Von Hertzen Brothers album)
Approach is the Finnish rock band Von Hertzen Brothers's second full length album. The album was released on May 17, 2006 in Finland and went gold...
.
In 2007 & 2011 he played drums in the live band of the Finnish Idols
Idols (Finland)
Idols is a Finnish reality-television singing competition that airs on MTV3 . It debuted in the summer of 2003, and went on to become one of the most popular shows on Finnish television...
TV-show's finals.
Live work
Kuoppamäki performed with accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen to rave reviews at the "Meltdown on the South Bank" festival in London in 2005.Discography
| Year | Album | Artist | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Silmänkääntötemppu | Don Huonot | Percussion |
| 1992 | I | Kingston Wall | Percussion, Drums |
| 1993 | II | Kingston Wall | Percussion, Drums |
| 1994 | Dreamspace | Stratovarius | Drums |
| 1994 | III Tri-Logy | Kingston Wall | Percussion, Drums |
| 1994 | Verta, Pornoa & Propagandaa | Don Huonot | Conga |
| 1997 | File Under: Finnish Ambient ... | RinneRadio ... | Percussion |
| 2000 | 14 Diamonds:Best of Stratovarius | Stratovarius | Drums |
| 2002 | Finnish Jazz 2002 | Various Artists | Drums |
| 2003 | Dreamspace [Bonus Track] | Stratovarius | Drums |
| 2003 | Reflections | Apocalyptica | Percussion, Drums |
| 2003 | Seemann | Apocalyptica... | Percussion |
| 2005 | Reflections [Bonus Tracks] | Apocalyptica | Percussion |
| 2005 | Open Eyes | Metropol | Drums |
| 2006 | Amplified: A Decade of ... | Apocalyptica | Drums |
| 2006 | Seasons of Life [Bonus Track] | Janita | Drums |
| 2006 | Approach | Von Hertzen Brothers | Percussion, Drums |
| 2007 | HumppAvanti | Avanti | Percussion, Drums |
| 2007 | Ipanapa, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Voices |
| 2009 | Pitkä Kirja II | Various Artists | Drums |