After touring the world for 18 years with Trio Töykeät, Finnish jazz piano sensation Iiro Rantala refreshingly is still at the forefront of international pianism and the energetic keyboard virtuoso crosses musical genres and sytles with ease and excitement, playing at his exhilarating and adventurous best. Definitely entertaining, zany, unconventional and occasionally wicked, but always uncompromising.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=peMlOzSHVPI

Finland
Joona Toivanan Trio
www.joonatoivanentrio.com

The Joona Toivanen Trio comprises Joona Toivanen – piano, Tapani Toivanen – bass, Olavi Louhivuori – drums, and plays contemporary, intelligent, versatile, and above all lyrical jazz . This is one of the most promising and talented young jazz ensembles coming out of Finland during the past 10 years. They have a skilful grip on the art of improvisation and know how to deliver a great mix of original compositions with superb musicianship, and do so at times with a melancholic Nordic vibe and often an air of gladness and joy is laced through their material. The music of  Joona Toivanen trio is considered lyrical and elegant but equally strongly individual and daring and has its genesis in the Finnish nature and draws from the its rich epic and folk tradition. They have performed in Europe, Australia and Asia at key festivals and are enjoying a wonderful reception wherever they go. The trio won first prize in the Nordic jazz competition in Iceland in 2000, and in 2006 EMI Music Finland released the Joona Toivanen Trio’s third album ‘Frost’ on the Blue Note label. In 2009 the JTT performed at The Hague Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Their 4th CD will be released in 2010.

Korea/Sweden
Youn Sun Nah/Ulf Wakenius Duo
vocals/guitar
www.younsunnah.com and www.myspace.com/ulfwakenius

Supreme vocalism from Korea/France that exquisitely crosses jazz and cabaret chanson in duoism with Sweden's international jazz guitar master.

Denmark/China
Xong Trio
piano, flute, guzheng
www.xong.dk

A wonderful cross-cultural women's Trio in an expression of jazz, chamber musical poetica and traditional Chinese folkloric melancholy.

Denmark/Sweden/Ghana/Norway
Pierre Dorge&New Jungle Orchestra
www.newjungleorchestra.com

Pierre Dorge&New Jungle Orchestra have been around since 1980 - with some changes in the crew. They play worldmusic on the highest level, and are in a class of their own. With a mixture of jazz, Asian, African and European music - and general madness - they create their own dadaistic universe, which gives the audience a unique and extraordinary experience.

Finland
Ilmiliekki Quartet
www.myspace.com/ilmiliekki

A superb 4 piece band - trumpet, piano, bass and drums led by awesome trumpeter Verneri Pohjola - real poetry - in ensemble playing that has won the hearts of audiences in Europe, Australia (Wangaratta Jazz Oct'08 - Canadian jazz festivals July;09)

Denmark
Katrine Madsen Quartet
vocals, piano, bass, drums
www.katrine-madsen.dk

Scandinavia's world class vocal star, who continues to hold her own on the European jazz firmament. 

FROM AUSTRALIA

MICHELLE NICOLLE Quartet:
vocals,guitar,bass,drums - Melbourne
www.michellenicolle.com

Winner: 2001, 2003 and 2004 - Australian Jazz Vocalist of the Year Aria Award - Melbourne based, arranger, band leader and jazz vocalist Michelle Nicolle is Australia's first lady of jazz. With a full ranging marvellous voice, her profile has been rapidly rising and Michelle has become known as Australia's finest jazz singer. Michelle has released 6 beautiful albums, all of which have been received with high acclaim.Her 6th CD 'The Loviest Night' was released on ABC Records at the end of March 2009. In 1998 at the Wangaratta International Jazz Festival (Melbourne), Michelle won the prestigious National Jazz Award and the judges included the legendary bebop singer Sheila Jordon (USA), and the current Blue Note vocal star Kurt Elling (USA). In recent years Michelle Nicolle has toured Australia and around the world.

Australian jazz singing doesn't come any better than this - The Weekend Australian

NEILSEN GOUGH Quartet:
vocals/trumpet, piano, bass, drums - Sydney
www.neilsengough.com

High quality jazz vocalism is a wonderful experience and adds an extra dimension to a jazz night's outing for the joy of any audience. What's more male jazz singers are a rarity not only in Australia but also internationally. Neilsen Gough is doing it beautifully! His voice is like no other - warm, smooth and sweet like honey gold. His emotional depth and delicate handling of the lyric and melody is a testimony for the tradition and beauty of the American standards songbook. Not since Chet Baker has there been a performer capable of evoking such sincerity and subtlety, and the fluidity and warmth of his voice is echoed in his trumpet playing. Neilsen Gough is one of the coolest jazz cats in Australia and music lovers around the world are listening.

No one else in the world can both sing and play the trumpet as well as Neilsen - James Morrison

JULIEN WILSON Trio
tenor-sax, guitar, piano-accordion
Melbourne - www.julienwilson.com

With their contemporary yet timeless music, this lyrical Australian trio creates intimate magic with the melancholic sounds of piano accordion, tenor-sax and guitar. Their gentle yet passionate, tango-inflected pieces have a broad emotional scope and are full of haunting nostalgia. The Julien Wilson Trio has performed many high profile concerts, including three performances at the Sydney Opera House. Featuring three of Australia's most accomplished and versatile musicians, they have enchanted and mesmerised audiences wherever they have played. Runners up to the national Australian Jazz Bell Awards'09 for best jazz ensemble of the year (Julien Wilson won the 'Australian Jazz Artist of the Year' award in 2008), this fine Trio with its unique instrumentation and original compositions draws on many inspirations and influences, incorporating tango, bossa, folk, classical and jazz elements to create an unusual yet lyrical sound.

They play as if with one mind. Wilson is at his most lyrical and eloquent, while Grant and Magnusson are equally brilliant - ABC Limelight

NAT BARTSCH Trio
piano,bass,drums - Melbourne
www.natbartsch.com

Young Australian pianist/composer Nat Bartsch is fast gaining a reputation for playing touching music with beauty, soul and clarity. Joined by the young talents of Josh Holt (bass) and Leigh Fisher (drums), their focus lies in creating unique improvised music with melodic and harmonic beauty and vibrant rhythmic motives. Her trio draws influence not only from the modern jazz piano trios of today, but also from indie, ambient and minimalist music, such as Sigur Ros, Elbow and Radiohead. The trio showcases Nat's original compositions, and the trio's own arrangements of contemporary popular Australian music. They have performed extensively around the Melbourne jazz scene andi n May 2009 Nat Bartsch made her debut performance in Tokyo and at the Fukuoka jazz festival in Japan, receiving standing ovations.

MIKE NOCK
piano/keyboards,bass,drums - CET (Creative Electronic Trio) - Sydney
www.mikenock.com

New Zealand born pianist/composer Mike Nock is one of the world's acknowledged masters of jazz in Australasia. Since his first recordings with the Three-Out Trio in 1960-61, Mike Nock has remained at the forefront of  international jazz, and continues to attract critical acclaim and delight audiences worldwide. Mike's extensive top level international experience give his live performances an  exceptional  breadth and depth, and with the Mike Nock Trio he continues to introduce some of  Australia's most exciting young jazz  talents to a wide audience. Recognised as a creative force in modern music since his ground breaking group the Fourth Way in the 1970's, Mike is now re-exploring the electronic soundscape with CET - the Creative Electronic Trio, and with the youthful talent and energy of  the Waples brothers (Ben Waples on electric bass - James Waples on drums), CET brings a fresh perspective to their music, creating a new sound for a new generation. CET is very much part of Mike Nock's mission to draw young audiences into jazz appeciation and exploration... and they are listening.

Nock is, quite  simply, one of  the unsung piano heroes of the past  50  years. - All About Jazz

DOUG de VRIES/DIANA CLARK TRIO
www.dougdevries.com - www.dianaclark.com.au

Doug de Vries - ranks high at the forefront of international guitarists and is a jazz musician of world class. He is Australia's foremost experienced and versatile jazz guitarist and composer, excelling in many musical genres from jazz to choro, samba and bossa nova. Working  closely with Doug is highly praised Australian singer-songwriter Diana Clark, who has earned her reputation as a persuasive interpreter of Brazilian Jazz. The sparkling guitar mastery of Doug and vocal eloquence of Diana vocald are sublimely supplemented by the subtle piano-accordionism of multi-instrumentalist Stephen Grant, who is one of the busiest accompanying and touring musicians in Australia, crossing many genres.

Melbourne guitarist Doug de Vries has long been revered for his magical playing and willingness and determination to explore new sounds and styles (His) artistry is eloquent, joyous and exuberant - Herald Sun (Melbourne)