Trio Toykeat, Finland’s most well-known jazz group for fifteen years, is one of Europe’s top and most unique international music groups. This tightly knit unit was established in 1988 and packs more energy into one piece than most people can fit into their lives. Five albums have been released by them, and the Blue Note label just released the new album, ‘High Standards. Eerik Siikasaari, Rami Eskelinen and Iiro Rantala have been performing in over 2000 concerts around the globe for 15 years. They are truly international performers, and have received acclaim from jazz, classical, and pop audiences across five continents. Trio Toykeat is definitely unorthodox, perhaps wicked, but never compromises. The Trio’s musical talent has drawn in a wide range of audiences all over the globe. The Toykeat musicians studied at the Sibelius Academy in Finland and at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. They have performed at many festivals throughout the world, including Finland’s Pori and Espoo Jazz Festivals and Kuhmo Chamber Music Festivals. Iiro Rantala (b.1970), pianist, studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and Oulunkyla Jazz Conservatorium, in New York. He also studied at the Manhattan School of Music (1991-1993). Iiro Rantala’s rise to fame as a jazz thinker is one of the most remarkable phenomena in the Finnish music industry over the past six years. He has been awarded all major jazz awards in Finland. Rantala also performs with Finnish symphony orchestras. Works like the Mozart No.23 Piano Concerto and Iiro’s piano concerto were premiered in Finland by the Tapiola Sinfonietta in April 2003. Rami Eskelinen (b.1967) is a drummer. He also studied at the Oulunkyla Conservatorium from 1982 to 1988. Rami Eskelinen was named the best drummer in 1988 at the Hoeilaart International Jazz Contest, Belgium. The Trio also won first prize. Rami also studied with Iiro Runtala at The Manhattan School of Music in NYC. In 1996, he was named best Finnish drummer. Eerik Siikasaari, a bass player, was born to a family of jazz musicians. He sounds almost as if he had ingested the jazz tradition from his mother’s milk. He graduated from the Oulunkyla Conservatorium and the Sibelius Academy. Eerik was the number one bassist of his generation by the end of the 1980’s. Eerik was the recipient of the Georgie Jazz award in Finland in 1995, and the Finland’s Bassist of the Year Award in 1997. from www.rockadillo.fi/triotoykeat
