In his latest project Aallot, the accordionist Harri Kuusijärvi fuses his new electronically extended accordion with the acoustic warmth of the jazz rhythm section of bassist Jori Huhtala and drummer Mika Kallio. The trio collides Nordic serenity with vibrant jazz energy to create a soundscape that is earthy, minimalistic and irresistibly groovy – and probably something you’ve never heard before.
Harri Kuusijärvi is one of the most distinctive figures in accordion music today. He is known for his open-minded projects that push the traditional boundaries of what the accordion can achieve as an instrument. Kuusijärvi has received several recognitions, including being named Finnish Accordion Artist of the Year in 2023, an Emma nomination for Best Classical Album in 2021, and a nomination for one of the Nordic countries’ most prestigious art prizes, the Teosto Prize, in 2020.
The band’s debut studio session was broadcast on YLE Jazzklubi in June 2024. The debut album ‘Aallot’ was released in January 2025 on the Flame Jazz Records.
“”Quite pure and slightly gentle jazz, but that should not be misinterpreted as uninteresting or unexciting.
Despite the fact that it’s relatively accessible and melody focussed music, it’s also innovative and exciting. This is not music I’ve heard before.” -Audiophile
“You can’t help but stop at the album, it is so intense and powerful, so homely and relatable in all its tenderness, that stopping is the only option.” – Kulttuurimedia
“Ears are the most merciless of judges, and the undersigned’s pair of ears like what they hear very much. “⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Desibeli