Artists

	Jim Campilongo is New York based virtuoso guitar player and composer. "Nobody weaves together Jazz, Blues and Country with the silky finesse of Jim Campilongo" -- Guitar Player Magazine website: www.jimcampilongo.com
	K/O/Q - Kannaste-Ojajärvi Quartet Jussi Kannaste, sax Olli Ojajärvi, sax Ville Huolman, bass Jussi Lehtonen, drums The quartet KOQ is unusual in line-up - truly one of a kind. It impresses us with original superb compositions as much as with exceptionally fresh and lively co-operation between two strong saxophonists and the energetic and enthusiastic work of the rhythm section. Sony Finland 2005 Jazz award and 2004 Jukka Perko sax contest winner, the dazzling Jussi Kannaste and the brilliant saxophonist Olli Ojajärvi from UMO really support and feed on each other. Kannaste and Ojajärvi are masters of improvisation. Saxophonists play melody while bass provides the harmony underneath and no other harmonic instrument is needed. Backbone of KOQ is provided by hard swinging Ville Huolman on bass and colourful Jussi Lehtonen on drums. Pentti Ronkanen, in the newspaper Keskisuomalainen: “KOQ has secretly, without any fuss or excessive publicity, taken their deserved place among the best Finnish jazz bands. Hats off, everyone!”
	Juuso Nieminen, Guitar Despite his young age, guitarist Juuso Nieminen (born in 1979) has performed at various events and concert series in Europe and the USA, and won several first prizes in international guitar competitions. Heinsberg, Germany, 2005, 1st prize Creta, Greece, 2004, 1st prize “Michele Pittaluga” contest, Italy, 2003, 2nd prize Markneukirchen, Germany, 2003, 2nd prize Coria, Spain, 2002, 1st prize “Julian Arcas” contest, Almeria, Spain, 2001, shared 2nd prize Sernancelhe contest, Portugal, 2001, shared 1st prize Forum Gitarre Wien festival competition, 2001, 2nd prize Forum Gitarre Wien festival competition, 2000, 2nd prize Trofa, Portugal, 2000, 1st prize Gargnano, Italy, 1999, shared 2nd prize Scandinavian Guitar Festival, 1998, shared 1st prize Nieminen has studied guitar playing under Timo Korhonen and Ismo Eskelinen at the Turku Conservatory of Music during the years 1998-2001, and from 2001 at the Sibelius Academy under Jukka Savijoki and Jyrki Myllärinen. He has participated in many master courses taught by David Russell, Marco Socias, Eduardo Fernandez, Zoran Dukic and Alvaro Pierri, among others. Concert in Valkeakoski Chamber Music Hall/Ponce, Rodrigo, Bach, Villa-Lobos “Freshly played guitar classics” ... A truly superb performance by a young artist who is surely one of our greatest promises, even by international standards. - Jarmo Tuominen, critic Concert in Pernaja Church/Manuel de Falla, Bach, Sor, Brouwers, Ponce, Britten “Brilliant guitar soiree in Pernaja church” ...Having witnessed the “Sibelius-days”-festival, I thought I had heard the very best that the 2004 East Nyland musical scene could offer, but Nieminen's concert was the dot over the i, the cream in my coffee, a cold beer after the sauna. In technical terms, the young chap can only be described with the well-worn word virtuoso, which does seem rather poor after Wednesday’s fireworks. The concert program likewise proved Nieminen’s ability to smoothly move between different musical styles and periods like a fish in water, remaining true to each style. He makes full use of the guitar’s expressive range, e.g. colour, volume and nuances, making the music continuously interesting. - Kimmo Havela, critic Concert in Pirkanmaa Music Institute/Bach, Rodrigo, Ponce, Britten “Juuso Nieminen - virtuoso” ... The performance was simply natural and easy, genuinely felt and unconstrained by the instrument. The competition piece by Bach made an everlasting impression on me. I have never heard Bach played on a guitar in such a way. It sounded like the entire piece did not contain a single technically difficult passage. The music simply flowed... - Antero Laurila, critic
	Ilkka Rantamäki studied guitar playing and composition in the Guitar Institute of Technology in California and in Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory. He has released three albums in the past, which have been praised especially in music magazines in USA + the new compilation album in March 2005. "Music is highly original, recommended for those who like rock guitar virtuoso genre" -- Goldmine. website: www.ilkkarantamaki.com