THE IDEA OF KAIRA

Once a decade the top jazz musicians of Finland gather together to create an album of brand new, originally composed Finnish jazz.

IDEA OF THE SUPER TEAM OF FINNISH JAZZ

Once in while the top jazz musicians of Finland join forces to create a new album with originally composed, totally new Finnish jazz. The Finnish  media has described KAIRA as “the superteam of Finnish Jazz” and so it is named also on the official web site Jazz Finlad.

The first album in 2017 (Svart Records) was named “Urban Sagas Of Northern Cities”. The music is cool crossover between melodic jazz and urban funkysoul with two powerfull singers Sam Huber and Nina Mya.

The second album “AIR” in 2024 (Eclipse Music) is modern mainstream instrumental jazz played by sextet with a strong horn section. The musicians of the album “AIR” are Markus Niittynen, Timo Lassy, Heikko Remmel, Jussi Lehtonen, Abdissa Assefa, Kalevi Louhivuori and Kasperi Sarikoski. The music is composed by Lauri Kaira and Markus Niittynen.

The third Album “Christmazz” will be released in the end of year 2026. It contains exceptional and totally new burning jazz versions of classical Christmas music, close to the styles we have heard form virtuosis like John Coltrane.

 NEXT ALBUM COMING OUT IN THE END OF 2026!

THREE ALBUMS AND THREE TEAMS

THE “TEAM 2024”

The Finnish  media describes KAIRA as “the super team of Finnish Jazz”. These  world class award winning artists belong to the vanguard of the Finnish and Estonian contemporary jazz scene. Most of them run their own bands, but with KAIRA we hear them together:

•  Markus Niittynen of The Markus Niittynen Band and Markus Niittynen trio (piano),

• Heikko Remmel  of the Heikko Remmel Quartet (bass),

• Jussi Lehtonen  of the Jussi Lehtonen Band (drums)

• Abdissa Assefa of Giant Robot and Rinneradio (percussions)

And the great horns:

• Timo Lassy  of the Timo Lassy Band (saxophone)

• Kalevi Louhivuori of the Sun Trio and J.K.L Band (trumpet, flugel horn)

• Kasperi Sarikoski, well know for instance for his role in the UMO Helsinki (trombone)     

The Studio and songwriters

• The music was recorded, mixed and mastered  in the legendary Finnvox studios by Tommi Vainikainen.  

• The songs were composed by Lauri Kaira and Markus Niittynen.

The “team 2026”

The team behind the new album coming out in the end of 2026 is a combo of the groups behind the first two records.

• The Musicians are Markus Niittynen (piano), Jussi Lehtonen (drums), Joonatan Rautio(saxophone) and Heikko Remmel (bass)

• The music was recorded mixed and mastered in the legendary Finnvox Studios by Tommi Vainikainen

• The new arrangements for the songs were done by Jussi Lehtonen, Markus Niittynen, Joonatan Rautio and Tommi Vainikainen

• The entire production is result of the cowork of the producers Lauri Kaira and Markus Niittynen

• The record will be released by Rainy Morning Records and BopCat Records in the end of 2026

THE “TEAM 2017”

The first album Urban Sagas of Northern Cities (Svart Records 2017) contained songs of loving and loosing love and everyday life in the north.

• The musicians on this album are: Markus Niittynen (piano, synthezisers), Jussi Lehtonen (drums, percussions), Sampo Tiittanen (bass, electric bass), Joonatan Rautio (saxophone), Nina Mya (vocals) and Sam Huber (vocals)

• The songs were written by Lauri Kaira and Markus Niittynen

• The music was recorded at the fantastic Varistoteles Studios by Markku Veijonsuo

• The producers were Lauri Kaira and Markus Niittynen,

• The album was released by Svart Records

> Read more of the first album and creating the group