Jussi Reijonen

WITH THREE SECONDS | KOLME TOISTA, COMPOSER, GUITARIST, AND OUD PLAYER JUSSI REIJONEN PRESENTS HIS MOST PERSONAL AND AMBITIOUS WORK YET.

Bringing together an all-star 9-piece ensemble of musicians from Finland, Jordan/Iraq, Palestine, Turkey, Japan and the United States whose credits include performances/recordings with Herbie Hancock, Roy Haynes, Simon Shaheen, Danilo Pérez, Terence Blanchard, Snarky Puppy and Yo-Yo Ma, composer, guitarist and oud player Jussi Reijonen’s long-awaited new album Three Seconds | Kolme Toista [Challenge Records International, 2022] draws from the deep pool of influences and experiences of a childhood spent in the Middle East and East Africa as well as 13 years in the United States as an adult.

As Reijonen’s expansive new work unpacks, unravels and transcends the interlaced cultural threads within his experience, he builds a sonic world of broad and beautiful proportions, going above and beyond his critically acclaimed debut un | ان.

The dynamic interplay of the Finnish, Jordanian, Tanzanian, Omani, Lebanese and American cultures in which he grew up and lived, the ever-present feeling of being welcomed yet never truly belonging, the longing to understand his own identity within this complex and wondrous multicultural and multilingual context, and the disorienting effect of their transient existence on his familial relationships are expressed, explored and stunningly resolved in Reijonen’s transcendent suite.

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Born in Rovaniemi, a small town on the Arctic Circle in Northern Finland, fretted/fretless guitarist and oud player Jussi Reijonen is truly the product of a life lived transcending boundaries.

Having grown up in Finnish Lapland, the Middle East and East Africa, and spending much of his adulthood in the United States, Jussi has lived a life soaking up the sounds, sights, scents and shades of Nordic, Middle Eastern, African and American cultures, all of which are reflected in his creative work as composer and performer.

Along his path, Jussi has worked as bandleader, sideman, composer or arranger with a diverse array of world-renowned artists. He has collaborated with Jack DeJohnette, Pepe de Lucía, Javier Limón, David Fiuczynski, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Dave Weckl, Hüsnu Şenlendirici and the New York Gypsy All-Stars, among others. He has performed extensively at prestigious festivals and venues throughout the United States like Lincoln Center and the Library of Congress, as well as in Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Canada, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.

Jussi’s Independent Music Award-nominated debut album un | ان was released to great critical acclaim in early 2013 on his unmusic label. His latest album Three Seconds | Kolme Toista, a long-form suite for a new transcultural 9-piece ensemble, features musicians from Jordan/Iraq, Palestine, Turkey, Japan and the United States and was released worldwide on October 14th, 2022 via Challenge Records International.

Alongside his solo work, he co-leads Sawaari, a quintet exploring the nexus of Indian rhythms, Arabic maqamat, and trance music from North Africa and Southern Italy. He collaborates with Swiss vocalist Gabriela Martina, and is a member of the New York Arabic Orchestra.

Through his work as doctoral researcher and faculty at Sibelius Academy at University of the Arts in Helsinki, Finland, Jussi continues to promote and provoke transcultural dialogue and conversation across boundaries and disciplines beyond mere identity politics.

Awards

2020 Arts-Sciences-Lettres, France Silver medal for artistic achievements, “Honneur et Reconnaissance aux Hommes de Valeur” 2017 13th Hi-Fi Album Awards, China Winner, “2017 Instrumental Album Performance of the Year” with Yazhi Guo: Endless Journey [Rhymoi Music 2017]. 2016 15th Annual Independent Music Awards, USA Winner, “Best Traditional Album” with Newpoli: Nun Te Vutà [Beartones 2015]. 2016 DownBeat magazine, “Best Albums of 2016” Awarded to Gabriela Martina: No White Shoes [Red Velvet Sounds 2016]. 2016 Berklee Urban Service Award 2016 Awarded to Sonic Relief for using music to aid people in need (organizing a humanitarian fundraising concert for Syrian Refugees, featuring Simon Shaheen and Lee Swensen Katz Trio, December 2015) 2014 13th Annual Independent Music Awards, USA Nomination for “Best World Beat Album” with Jussi Reijonen: un [unmusic 2013]. 2014 Lucid Culture, “The Best Jazz Albums of 2013” Awarded to Jussi Reijonen: un [unmusic 2013]. 2014 Radio WNYC, “New Sounds Best of 2013” Awarded to Jussi Reijonen: un [unmusic 2013]. 2014 Radio KMUW, Global Village “Best of 2013” Awarded to Jussi Reijonen: un [unmusic 2013]. 2013 Guitar Player Magazine, Editor’s Faves, April 2013 Awarded to Jussi Reijonen: un [unmusic 2013].

Gear

Ruokangas Guitars
Mad Professor Amplification
Maqiano
LaBella Strings