Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music
Line-up:
Olli Soikkeli – Guitar
Eleazar Ruiz Spreafico – Double bass
TBA – Drum kit
About
Olli Soikkeli was born in Nurmes, Finland in 1991. He started playing guitar at age of 12. After a few years of playing Olli was introduced to the music of the great Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz has been Ollis main focus ever since. Soon Olli was playing in jazz clubs and festivals all around Finland with the top musicians from Finland. After touring all around Europe with musicians such as Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud Van Den Berg Olli decided to move to New York City in 2014. Right away he became the top call for Gypsy Jazz in New York City playing legendary venues such as Town Hall, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note and Lincoln Center. His collaboration with violinist Jason Anick as a Rhythm Future Quartet has made him an International star in the world of Gypsy Jazz.
Despite his young age he’s already played with stars such as Bucky Pizzarelli, Stochelo Rosenberg, Tommy Emmanuel, Andreas Öberg, Cyrille Aimee, Anat Cohen, Antti Sarpila and Marian Petrescu.
In 2011 Olli recorded his first album “Trois Générations” with Hot Club de Finlande and Vitali Imereli and in 2012 he recorded his second album “Kouvola Junction” with Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud van den Berg.
2014 Rhythm Future Quartet’s debut album was released. 2016 Rhythm Future Quartet’s second album ‘Travels’ was released which received rave reviews including Best albums of 2016 by Huffington Post and All About Jazz magazines. The Fall of 2018 marked the release of “Rhythm Future Quartet and Friends”, which features the critically acclaimed singer Cyrille Aimée, brazil’s top bandolimist Hamilton de Holanda, and guitarist Stochelo Rosenberg.
Last few years Olli has been exploring musically. 2017 toured and recorded album ‘Rise and Grind’ together with virtuoso accordionist Julien Labro. 2018 Olli started a duo project with New York based Brazilian 7-string guitarist Cesar Garabini playing mostly Brazilian Choro music. Early 2019 Olli recorded with Grammy award winning pianist Marian Petrescu. Beginning of 2020 Olli was invited to join the renowned International Guitar Night tour alongside Mike Dawes, Cenk Erdogan and Jim Kimo West touring all over the USA and Canada. Summer 2022 Olli will release his 10th studio album “Olli Soikkeli Quartet feat. Marian Petrescu”
The Wall Street Journal wrote “Olli Soikkeli, a riveting finnish guitarist who combines astonishing dexterity and speed with pure soul in a way that places him among the worthiest current day successors to the legacy of the great Django.”
The New Yorker wrote ” GYPSY JAZZ BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL DIALECT LONG AGO. OLLI SOIKKELI, ONE OF THE MOST ADEPT AND RESOURCEFUL CONTEMPORARY GUITARISTS IN THAT STILL POTENT IDIOM, HAILS FROM FINLAND.”
The Vanity Fair wrote “TRADITIONAL JAZZ TALENT FINNISH GUITARIST OLLI SOIKKELI.”