Jazz pianist & composer
Joona Toivanen (born 1981) is a Finnish jazz pianist, composer and educator, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Toivanen has toured frequently in Europe, Asia, Australia and USA and worked with international top jazz musicians. Toivanen’s pianism is lyric and delicate and his technique serves the story in the music all the time. Musically he moves in the boundaries between tradition and avant-garde.
His current musical projects as a bandleader/co bandleader include the We Jazz, Blue Note and Cam Jazz recording Joona Toivanen Trio and the Nordic quartet Jazz & Fly Fishing. Joona is also a member of the highly acclaimed Anders Hagberg NORTH from Sweden as well as several other jazz/improvising ensembles.
Joona has also been active as a solo performer.
Redolent of Bill Evans, Joona Toivanen’s piano jazz sounds simultaneously fresh and individual, timeless and unbounded.
— Keskisuomalainen
Joona Toivanen created a bit of jazz evolution…
— Hufvudstadsbladet
Hypnotizing minimalism; the possibilities of the prepared piano strike the listener with their irresistible pulse.