Varre Vartiainen
Encyclopedia
Varre Vartiainen is a Finnish guitarist
who has studied in Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Sibelius Academy
of Music under supervision of Raoul Björkenheim
, Jukkis Uotila and Wayne Krantz
. He rose to fame and leading guitarist position in Finland
playing in every possible connection; live concerts, studio sessions, movies, television shows and theatre musicals among them.
Vartiainen’s earlier band Gonzo toured Europe and Africa, where gigs in Spain, Namibia, South Africa and Montreaux Jazz Festival in France were among the highlights.
Vartiainen’s friend guitarist Marzi Nyman recommended him for a vacancy with Finland’s most popular pop group Nylon Beat
, and Vartiainen played with them two years. He later worked with Jim Beard
touring Finland, and then joined Leningrad Cowboys
, the Finnish cult band that is known and has played in all continents of the world. The band performed in MTV Music Awards show in New York, Roskilde Festival in Denmark and starred several Leningrad Cowboys movies of Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki
.
Varre Vartiainen is also a member of Sleepy Sleepers
, a Finnish rock band with wild shows and raunchy humor.
The tight Husband consists of bassist Harri Rantanen and drummer Anssi Nykänen who have backed dozens of Finland’s top artists together during the last two decades. Guest musicians are the cream of the crop in the Finnish music scene today: Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa increases the percussive power, saxophonist Timo Lassy brings in shades of classy, sophisticated contemporary jazz, vocalist Sami Pitkämö finesses the melodies and Timo Pratskin with keyboards, Jarmo Savolainen with Rhodes/synths and vibraphonist Arttu Takalo both enhance the harmony of the music.
Husband's second CD Homo Sapiens was issued in June 2006. The core trio is expanded by top soloists Marzi Nyman and Jarmo Saari (guitars), Sonny Heinilä (saxophone), Jarmo Savolainen (keyboards), Lenni-Kalle Taipale (piano) and Mongo Aaltonen (percussion).
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...
who has studied in Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Sibelius Academy
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy is a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities...
of Music under supervision of Raoul Björkenheim
Raoul Bjorkenheim
Raoul Björkenheim is an American jazz guitarist. He was born to Finnish parents. His mother is actress/singer Taina Elg . He lived in the USA until he was 15 years old, when his family returned to Finland...
, Jukkis Uotila and Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz
Wayne Krantz is an American jazz fusion guitarist. He has played with top artists such as Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and others, but is most active as a solo performer.-Biography:...
. He rose to fame and leading guitarist position in Finland
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...
playing in every possible connection; live concerts, studio sessions, movies, television shows and theatre musicals among them.
Vartiainen’s earlier band Gonzo toured Europe and Africa, where gigs in Spain, Namibia, South Africa and Montreaux Jazz Festival in France were among the highlights.
Vartiainen’s friend guitarist Marzi Nyman recommended him for a vacancy with Finland’s most popular pop group Nylon Beat
Nylon Beat
Nylon Beat was a Finnish pop band that was very popular during 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s, consisting of the girl duo Jonna Kosonen and Erin Koivisto...
, and Vartiainen played with them two years. He later worked with Jim Beard
Jim Beard
James Arthur Beard is an American jazz pianist and keyboardist, contemporary instrumental composer, arranger and record producer.- Life and career :...
touring Finland, and then joined Leningrad Cowboys
Leningrad Cowboys
The Leningrad Cowboys is a Finnish rock band famous for humorously making rock and roll covers of popular songs, exaggerated pompadour hairstyles, long, pointy shoes, often featuring a Russian military band, the Alexandrov Ensemble.-Beginnings:...
, the Finnish cult band that is known and has played in all continents of the world. The band performed in MTV Music Awards show in New York, Roskilde Festival in Denmark and starred several Leningrad Cowboys movies of Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki
Aki Kaurismäki
-Career:After studying Media Studies at the University of Tampere, Aki Kaurismäki started his career as a co-director in the films of his elder brother Mika Kaurismäki. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment , Dostoyevsky's famous crime story set in modern-day Helsinki...
.
Varre Vartiainen is also a member of Sleepy Sleepers
Sleepy Sleepers
Sleepy Sleepers is a Finnish pop/rock/punk band. The band released 19 albums between 1975 and 1989. Sakke Järvenpää and Mato Valtonen were the main members of the band...
, a Finnish rock band with wild shows and raunchy humor.
Trio Husband
Varre Vartiainen made his recording debut as a leader with his trio Husband in 2003. The record Husband contains nine original compositions of Vartiainen that range from raunchy funk of “Sir Dalud”, via jazzy “Baritone” and soft ballad “Le Mu” to percussive world music celebration of “Koiruus”.The tight Husband consists of bassist Harri Rantanen and drummer Anssi Nykänen who have backed dozens of Finland’s top artists together during the last two decades. Guest musicians are the cream of the crop in the Finnish music scene today: Abdissa “Mamba” Assefa increases the percussive power, saxophonist Timo Lassy brings in shades of classy, sophisticated contemporary jazz, vocalist Sami Pitkämö finesses the melodies and Timo Pratskin with keyboards, Jarmo Savolainen with Rhodes/synths and vibraphonist Arttu Takalo both enhance the harmony of the music.
Husband's second CD Homo Sapiens was issued in June 2006. The core trio is expanded by top soloists Marzi Nyman and Jarmo Saari (guitars), Sonny Heinilä (saxophone), Jarmo Savolainen (keyboards), Lenni-Kalle Taipale (piano) and Mongo Aaltonen (percussion).