Mikko Pellinen's ensemble, the Mini Big Band features seven top young Finnish jazz musicians and the composer himself playing the bass. The album consists entirely of originals by Pellinen.
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Mikko Pellinen (b. 1983) is part of the new generation of jazz in Finland. As a composer his main focus is on his own group Mikko Pellinen Mini Big Band. Pellinen has also composed and arranged music for other jazz groups, theater, short movies and dance performances.
Besides composing and arranging work Pellinen is also known as an versatile musician and conductor. Playing both electric and double bass he has performed with a broad range of different acts in Finland and abroad. His past and present work includes collaboration with jazz groups and artists (Maratone Quintet, HERD, Heads & Tales, Tribute to "Ella", William Suvanne, Susanna Wahl, Jazzminster Abbey), world music groups (Värttinä, Arosa Ensemble), orchestras & big bands (Keski-Pohjanmaan kamariorkesteri, Vaasan kaupunginorkesteri, Finnish Junior Allstars Big Band), pop groups (Anu Neuvonen) etc.
Pellinen started his music studies with electric bass at age of ten. Soon after he became more and more interested in writing music and began to study composing. After high school he continued his studies in the pop & jazz department of Helsinki Stadia University of Applied Sciences (now known as Metropolia), graduating in 2008. He continued his studies at Sibelius-Academy's Jazz Music Department graduating with Master's degree in 2011, majoring in jazz composition. His composing teachers include Kari "Sonny" Heinilä and Jere Laukkanen among others. He has studied electric and double bass with for example Hannu Rantanen, Ari-Pekka Anttila, Ulf Krokfors and Ville Herrala.
Pellinen has performed in major festivals and clubs in Finland. Besides Finland he has played in Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Spain, Netherlands, Mexico and Kosovo. Pellinen has participated in jazz contests in Finland and abroad; EBU European Jazz Competition (1st prize with HERD), Young Nordic Jazz Comets 2009 (2nd prize with HERD) and Imatra Big Band Festival big band contest 2006 (1st prize with Stadia Big Band). As a member of Maratone Quintet, he performed in the final of International Getxo Jazz Competition 2010 in Spain. Pellinen was granted the Nokia "Young Talent" prize in 2007.