Joonas Haavisto is one of the most notable jazz musicians from the Nordic jazz scene. He has played as a soloist with chamber orchestras and big bands and leads his group Joonas Haavisto Trio, which released its fifth album Offshore in 2019. The trio has performed worldwide in venues like Blue Note Jazz Club New York, Tokyo Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, Jazzahead!, Les Boréales Festival and Pori Jazz Festival. In 2017, Joonas joined the world-famous Steinway Artist roster.
In his compositions, Haavisto combines memorable themes with multilayered, surprising rhythmic motifs and sophisticated harmonies. Joonas tells about the latest album: " If someone asked me, where is my home I ́d answer it is by the sea. This album (Offshore) is about the opportunity, infinity, safety, connection, enormous power and calmness which are delivered to us by the sea." Joonas has also composed music for various groups from the trio to big bands. In 2016 he composed and played the piano music for The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki movie, which won the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Known for his crystal clear piano sound and versatile musicality Joonas has been invited to play and compose music for various projects during the last few years. In 2020 he played a piano concerto Borderlines composed by Mikko Pellinen. The premier took place in Kokkola with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra. Joonas has also played with one of the finest jazz musicians such as Jerry Bergonzi, Jonathan Kreisberg, Tivon Pennicott, Troy Roberts, Michael Formanek, John Fedchock, Bill Watrous, Sinne Eeg, Bertil Strandberg, Jukkis Uotila and Jukka Perko. Other international groups include Estonian singer Susanna Aleksandra and Lithuanian saxophonist Kestutis Vaiginis Quartet.
With his trio, Joonas has been playing around the world for over fifteen years. Together with bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Joonas Riippa the trio has released five albums and received praising reviews in international music magazines. In Japan, they have toured regularly since 2013. It has been said that "the trio's real thrill lies in its unique balance and those breathtaking moments in their nuanced playing" (CD Journal, Feb 2016).
