New York based Kaiku with their world music instrumentation are known for their “sweet soaring Finnish sounds”. Their harmonious songs are inspired by Finnish folklore and Finnish folk poetry, such as the Kalevala.
Paula Jaakkola, Vocals
Paula Jaakkola is from Helsinki. She began taking piano classes at the age of 9. Singing became her passion when she was 14. Later on she studied pop/jazz vocals at the Pop/jazz Conservatory in Helsinki and did her master’s degree in ethnomusicology at the University of Helsinki. In 1999 Paula moved to New York City to attend the New School University majoring jazz vocals. During her studies she became acquainted with songwriting and arranging. In New York she has led pop and jazz music ensembles such as Kaamos and Paula Jaakkola Jazz Quartet and worked as a backing vocalist for singer-songwriters. Jaakkola was also a permanent member as a mezzo soprano in a Finnish a capella’ group Akkapella which eventually transformed into Kaiku. Paula Jaakkola is one of the founders, leaders and composers of this group.
Jaana Kantola, Vocals
Jaana Kantola was born in Kemi, Lapland Region. At the age of eight she moved to Kuusankoski, where she began singing in a church choir. During high school years Jaana was touring in Finland and Scandinavia with the Kuusankoski Church Youth Choir. In New York Jaana has sung with the legendary pianist Barry Harris Singers. She has also been a choir member as well as a soloist at the Church Grace Congregational of Harlem that sang at the Tribute to Max Roach (1998) and Martin Luther King Celebration (1999) with Max Roach And Orchestra under the direction of John L. Motley. Jaana holds a BFA in jazz music from City College of New York and has worked as a soloist in numerous venues in and around the Metropolitan area. She is one of the founding members of Akkapella and the co-founder, composer and leader of Kaiku.
Erja Vettenranta, Vocals
Erja Vettenranta is from Jurva that is in the province of Southern Ostrobothnia (Western Finland). She inherited her father’s passion for both athletics and music although during her teenage years volleyball got the upper hand of the piano and music studies. Later, as an English philology major at the University of Helsinki, Erja joined one of the university choirs (Hämäläis-osakunnan laulajat) for two years before emigrating in 1999 to New York City. In New York, she met Finnish women of the Akkapella trio, joining the group as second alto in 2003. When Kaiku was formed in 2004, Erja accepted the position as one of the singers. In her civilian life, she is a graduate student of Spanish at the City College of New York, where she also sings in a female choir ‘Las Sirenas’
Uri Sharlin, Accordion, Piano
Uri Sharlin is from Tel Aviv, Israel. He started his training as a classical pianist at the age of 7. By the age of 15 he turned to jazz. In 1998 Uri moved to New York City where he discovered his hidden passion for world music. While co-leading a Brazilian Jazz group ‘Sul/Norte’ along with vocalist Gretta Panetieri, Uri traveled to Brazil, where he studied percussion and accordion. Uri has started his own group, the Cardamon quartet. After touring with the band to Israel in 2004 and 2005, the Cardamon quartet recorded their first album ‘Reflections of the Road’. In summer 2005 Uri joined the successful alternative rock band ‘Antony and the Johnsons’ on their tour to Europe, where he played accordion, at the most prestigious stages such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Viena Jazz Festival and Queen Elizabeth Hall London.
Christopher Hoffman, Cello
Christopher Hoffman is from Chicago, Illinois and he moved to New York City in October of 2002. Hoffman has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Henry Threadgill, Matt Maneri, Butch Morris, Michael Attias, Tom Rainey, Manuel Valera, Jon Finlayson, Anat Fort, Widemouth and Carmichael Theatre productions and his own ensembles Iosono and Limpet Trio. His playing runs the stylistic gamut of traditional Arabic and middle-eastern music, rock, jazz, lowercase, world, experimental and noise. His band Iosono currently has a record due out in February with Fever Pitch Records.
Christopher@christopherhoffman.com
Damon Honeycutt, Percussion
Damon Honeycutt is a multifaceted artist whose work involves the cohesion of many traditions. He holds an MA in Conscious Evolution and Integral Studies from The Graduate Institute under the direction of Professor Allan Combs, and a BFA from California Institute of the arts in music composition and cross cultural dance studies. Originally from Oregon, Damon has been living in New York City for 4 years. He is a Teacher of Kung Fu and Yoga as well as being a composer and multi focus musician. His compositions have been performed in the USA and Finland.