Drummer and percussionist

Pekka Saarikorpi (b. 1977) feels a predilection for Brazilian and West African rhythms, free jazz and the European tradition of jazz: styles of music close to his heart. Pekka’s way of playing drums has a strong legato feel to it – even light touches set off the tone and make the heads resonate. On the other hand, he has a talent for bringing out the percussive side of the instrument, making the kit sound like a complete African or Brazilian drum group.

Saarikorpi Brom - water music

Drummer and percussionist Pekka Saarikorpi was intrigued by the idea of arranging his own compositions for different ensembles. This is how Water Music came to be – an album best described as a composing drummer’s debut. It is deep in personal flavour – strongly percussive but simultaneosly lyrical and minimalistically melodic. The recording contains Saarikorpi’s solo pieces for marimba, percussions, and drum kit, as well as arrangements for varied ensembles, among others a jazz quintet.

In the Winter of 2007, the Finnish Cultural Foundation wanted to encourage musician Pekka Saarikorpi’s composing by giving him use of a marimba. The outcome was Water Music, an album of instrumental pieces and a narrative that joins them together. The personality of the musicians and the broad range of the instrumentation created a perfect base for Saarikorpi’s compositions and arrangements. The album’s distinctive sound and character springs from the ability of the musicians to morph into different ensembles and instrument groups inside Saarikorpi Brom. Together they create a space where West African rhythmics and cinematic and minimalistic melodies and harmonies fuse with Nordic folk music and the uninhibited stream of consciousness of free jazz.

Ensembles

Over the years, Pekka has worked as drummer and percussionist in a number of groups, among others Korpi Ensemble, Kurkirku, Veljeni Valas, Nuria, and Pasi K. & Hurmos. In October 2006, Korpi Ensemble released its third album, Trails, which was hailed by Helsingin Sanomat (the leading newspaper in Finland) as one of the best records released in 2006 (H.S. 15. 12. 2006). Kurkirku released its debut album The Mesh in Autumn 2007, and was nominated for the Finnish Jazz Emma-award that year. Pekka has also worked as a session musician on numerous recordings.

Apprentice and Master

Pekka’s teachers include Mika Kallio, Marko Timonen, Kepa Kettunen, Sakari Löytty, Fernando Paiva (Bra), Ramiro Musotto (Bra/Arg) and John Riley (USA). Currently, Pekka teaches drumming and rhythmics himself at the North Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Joensuu, the Pop&Jazz Conservatory in Helsinki and at the Arla Institute in Espoo. In addition, he has worked as a visiting teacher at the Georg Ots Conservatory in Tallinn.

Sea and Family

In his free time, Pekka is passionate about sailing and during the summer months enjoys spending time with his wife Kaisa and daughters Iida and Elli in their old wooden sailing boat (Nordic Folkboat F-195, Veljeni Valas). They sail on the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea off the Finnish coast.