Maria Kalaniemi Biography

Maria Kalaniemi, (b. 27, May 1964) is established in Finland and abroad, as one of the world’s most talented accordionists, not only as a technically skilled player but also as a gifted composer.

Maria’s specialty is the 5 row button accordion and she began playing at the age of eight. Her first real training was in classical music where she studied for eleven years. During these studies she developed an interest in traditional Finnish folk music and began working in that field, as well, performing solo and with fiddlers. The “double life of Maria” continued until 1983 when two major breakthroughs occurred.

Maria was voted winner of the Golden Accordion, a live nationally televised accordion competition. The direct result of this was the opportunity to record her first album, featuring, as in the competition, traditional Finnish dance tunes. The album was released by the Accordion Institute of Ikaalinen.

Secondly, Maria entered Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy and joined Heikki Laitinen’s newly established Folk Music Department. Soon after entering, she finished her classical training completely and devoted all her time and energies to folk music.

Maria’s experience with Laitinen and his revolutionary approach to folk music training was a major turning point in her life and career. Her work there was extensive and all encompassing, including thorough knowledge of tradition, mastery of a chosen instrument, multi-instrumentalism, composition, theory, improvisation and performance, centered around a broad minded, adventurous and borderless attitude towards all forms of music. So, while progressing rapidly in her accordion skills, Maria also studied mandolin, violin and kantele and began composing and arranging.

Also in 1983, Maria and other Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department students formed the pioneering ensemble Niekku. An all woman group, JPP’s Arto Järvelä, Niekku set out and succeeded to reinvent Finnish folk music. Very experimental for their time, Niekku pushed trad Finnish folk into unexplored territories, in execution, arrangement, texture and style. The music, part traditional and part original compositions, was all acoustic and featured a wide array of traditional and contemporary instruments. Their three albums and numerous concerts at home and abroad established them as leaders of what became known as the “New Finnish Folk” movement.

Ever searching for new routes, Maria took off for France in 1989 to study for a short time with accordionist Marcel Azzola, another experience that would have a lasting effect.

The second major turning point came in 1990 at Maria’s Sibelius Academy graduation, where she began investigating the use of left hand free-bass melodies, an approach not previously attempted as free-bass playing was considered exclusive to the classical music genre. The free-bass technique Maria explored and developed opened up a whole new world of possibilities for her, in performance, composition and arrangement. She promptly and with great intensity set her course on this path and within two years she was a master, a position unique in Finland and perhaps the world.

Maria’s next album was a showcase for her now well-honed skills and distinctive style. Entitled Maria Kalaniemi, it was released in 1992 by Olarin Musiikki of Finland, later in USA on the Xenophile label and again in 1998 on the Finlandia Innovators Series label. Accompanied by an all-star contemporary folk music cast including guitarist Olli Varis, JPP’s Arto Järvelä and Timo Alakotila on violin and piano respectively, Swedish fiddler Sven Ahlbäck and bassist Tapani Varis, Maria demonstrated her considerable talents as a player, writer and arranger. The material included traditional Finnish and Swedish tunes, polskas, tangos and original compositions, performed with striking dexterity and remarkable sensitivity. Critics ranged from very favourable to ecstatic and the resulting interest took her abroad for numerous concerts and tours, most notable of which was the 1994 Finnish Fever tour of USA, with fiddle stars JPP, which included sold out shows in Minneapolis, New York City and Chicago and a pile of rave reviews.

In 1995, Maria officially established her band, including Timo Alakotila, Arto Järvelä, Olli Varis, Tapani Varis and mandolinist Petri Hakala and christened it Aldargaz, named after a tribe of skinheads residing in the Ural mountains. It was instantly a busy first year for Aldargaz who were featured performers (with JPP) at the Råfinskt Festival at Kulturhuset, Stockholm, immediately followed by a featured slot at the Out of the Cool festival in Vienna (with JPP and Värttinä), where audience and press response was, again, overwhelming.

Aldargaz released their Iho album in Finland in July 1995 and worldwide on the Ryko/Hannibal label in 1997. Featuring mostly original pieces by Maria and collaborator, pianist Timo Alakotila, Iho was a dramatic leap forward in composition, arrangement and style. An innovative expansion on Aldargaz’ folk-based music was the bold and complex yet easily accessible horn and string arrangements which accentuated the powerful melodies and propelled their music to a new level of sophistication.

As Maria’s popularity increased at home, she began collaborating with various performers and musicians from other genres, including, for example, the ethnic/jazz fusion group ZetaBoo. The domestic highlight of 1996, from a commercial standpoint, was her work as accompanist with the popular Finnish singer Katri Helena, on tour and on album. In the folk music field, as well, Maria engaged in several other outside artists and projects. Most notable is the Helsinki Melodeon Ladies quintet, formed in 1995, which includes Riitta Kossi of Värttinä, a project that continues to the present. Maria also previously worked with ex-Niekku singer Anna-Kaisa Liedes and with violinist Marianne Maans in the Swedish-Finnish music project Ramunders Döttrar.

In 1996, Maria and Aldargaz won the “Prize of Finland” award by the Minister of Education for artistic excellence. Maria is the first “folk music” artist in Finland’s history to receive this award which has been, until now, given exclusively to classical, jazz and pop musicians. The recognition for her accomplishments did not stop there: in 1997, Maria was awarded a three year artists’ grant from the Finnish state.

Also in 1996, Maria joined a project that expanded her horizons even further. The Accordion Tribe, a quintet of stylistically different accordionists from five countries, toured Europe in May, hitting eighteen cities in three weeks. The Tribe features eccentric and respected players Lars Hollmer, Guy Klucevsek, Bratko Bibic and Otto Lechner. This highly successful project included several sold out concerts and resulted in the 1998 release of an album on Germany’s Intuition label, the material of which was culled from radio and DAT recordings from the concerts. The Tribe returns to live action in May 1998 with an appearance at the International Festival Musique Actuelle in Victoriaville, Canada.

Other highlights of 1997 include two Swedish tours, the second of which was topped off by a packed house at Fasching Jazz Club in Stockholm, recorded and broadcast nationally by Swedish Radio, plus a live national television interview and rave reviews in the national press. Back at home Maria began work with popular singer/actor/flautist Vesa-Matti Loiri, playing accordion on his recent album and touring Finland in his band which also includes well-known electric guitarist Peter Lerche. This band has toured Finland twice, in 1997 and 1998.

For 1998, Maria kicked off the year with the Harmonikka accordion festival, a highly publicized and successful event in which she was both organiser and performer, along with Finnish and foreign accordionists. Maria and Aldargaz followed that with a January appearance at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, opening for Altan and performing before a sell-out crowd of 850 and again in a double bill with Värttinä. Response was so positive that Aldargaz were immediately invited back for 1999. February ’98 saw a return to Stockholm for the Ladies Next contemporary women’s music festival at Kulturhuset, where she performed solo and with the fabulous Melodeon Ladies. Maria and Aldargaz then joined the famous contemporary composer / electric bassist Pekka Pohjola and his group for a double bill at the SirpaleSinfonia contemporary composers’ concert series.

In April, Maria and guitarist Olli Varis joined Swedish accordionist Lars Hollmer and Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen in the new accordion project, Andetagen, doing a short tour of Sweden and Finland. In May, Aldargaz performed in Cantigas do Maio festival in Lisbon and in August, Festival Dranouter in Belgium followed by Glatt & Verkehrt festival in Krems, Austria.

In autumn 1998, Maria, Heikki Laitinen and Anna-Kaisa Liedes released their vocal improvisation CD entitled Pidot. This project, which also included a stunning performance in Järvenpää, is quite a departure for Maria and demonstrates her more experimental side as well as her excellent voice.

October: Maria & Aldargaz recorded their new album, entitled Ahma, released in January 1999 by Rockadillo Records, Finland. Ahma features new original material from Maria and Timo Alakotila plus pieces by Olli and Tapani Varis. On October 31, Aldargaz performed at WOMEX Stockholm.

1999: In January, a return to Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, in a triple accordion bill with Sharon Shannon and Karen Tweed. Release of Ahma CD on Rockadillo. Contribution to the French production of Peter and the Wolf, released by EMI France (part of the Wolf is played by Maria, Riitta Kossi and Maija Karhinen). Several concerts in Finland, performances in China, Canada, Estonia, France, a Swedish tour by Helsinki Melodeon Ladies in September and another Swedish tour by Aldargaz in October.

2000: Aldargaz takes a rest from concerts while Maria spends time with various projects including Swedish-Finnish music group Ramunder, featuring violinist Marianne Maans and Aldargaz guitarist Olli Varis. The Ramunder album was released in spring in Finland.

Release of the album Blue by Japanese singer Halo, featuring performances by Maria and Aldargaz. More recordings with Halo for next album Yellow.

Maria makes Finnish tours and recordings with popular Finnish singer Vesa-Matti Loiri. Tour of Switzerland with pianist Timo Alakotila and recordings for future duo album.

Recordings in Helsinki with Karen Tweed and Timo Alakotila.

2001: Maria was involved in several collaborations this year including Swedish fiddler Sven Ahlbäck with the release of album Luftstråk by Amigo Sweden and concerts in Sweden. Her work with British accordionist Karen Tweed and Timo Alakotila was realized with the release of the May Monday album, including a tour of England. Further work with Japanese singer Halo appeared with the release of that singer’s album Yellow. Kalaniemi also participated in the Nordic Master Accordionists tour of Nordic countries.

The Maria Kalaniemi / Timo Alakotila duo released their album Ambra through Amigo Sweden. An extension of that duo, the Maria Kalaniemi Trio featuring guitarist Olli Varis, performed two concerts in Tokyo, at the legendary venue Tribute to the Love Generation, on a double bill with Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen (A special encore attraction featured a duet by both accordionists). The Maria Kalaniemi Trio performed at Wien Konzerthaus in Vienna.

International licensing is healthy as the Aldargaz album Ahma is released by Intuition of Germany, NorthSide of USA, Harmonia Mundi World Village of France and PVine label of Japan, this Japanese edition featuring two bonus live tracks. Maria and Aldargaz perform at Nordic Roots festival in Minneapolis.

2001 ends with the Accordion Tribe entering Lars Hollmer’s Chicken House studio in Uppsala, Sweden in December to record their second album. The recordings were filmed by Maximage of Zurich, directed by Stefan Schweitert, for a forthcoming documentary film about the band.

2002 kicks off with Maria Kalaniemi Trio performing again in Vienna at the Wien Accordeon Festival.

Big news of the year is the release of the second album by Accordion Tribe, Sea of Reeds, published by Intuition of Germany, including two new Kalaniemi pieces, “Unikko” and “Tuttuni”, both featuring Kalaniemi vocals. The group performs in Neuhardenburg and Kassell, Germany during the summer followed by a winter European tour. The tour was filmed by Maximage for the upcoming documentary.

Kalaniemi Trio concerts in Sweden and Serbia, Ramunder concerts in Spain and China. More concerts with Sven Ahlbåck in Sweden and a festival date in Limerick, Ireland with Karen Tweed

2003 saw the release of the UNTO Tango Orchestra CD including Maria, Timo Alakotila, Petri Hakala, JPP’s Mauno Järvelä, bassist Hannu Rantanen and singer Pirjo Aitomäki. Released by ARC Music, the album features new renditions of some of Finland’s best loved tangos by such composers as Toivo Kärki and Unto Mononen.

More new Kalaniemi music was released in the form of a mini-CD called Viimeinen Maa (The Last Land), as part of a book of photographs by Rax Rinnekangas entiiled Finlandia. Here Kalaniemi performs new pieces, mostly solo, with some vocals plus the guitar of Olli Varis.

There were many Kalaniemi concerts throughout Finland including the new project with Swedes, fiddler Sven Ahlåck and nyckelharpa maestro Johan Hedin. This new formation performed in Helsinki and in USA at the Nordic Roots festival.

2004 has been very productive with another Accordion Tribe European tour and the release of the Accordion Tribe documentary film entitled Music Travels, produced by Cornelia Seitler of Maximage, directed by Stefan Schweitert. The world premiere took place in Wien on February 22.

The Maria Kalaniemi Trio album Tokyo Concert was released by Amigo Sweden. These are the TLG recordings from 2001 by Mr. Satoru Fujii.

Many concerts at home and abroad with Alakotila, Ramunder and the new formation Maria Kalaniemi and the Ice Fishers featuring guitarist Olli Varis and fiddler Arto Järvelä. Two notable performances, Ramunder and Trio, were in Espoo at the JuuriJuhla-folkmusic festival where Kalaniemi was artistic director. She also found time to perform again with singer Vesa-Matti Loiri at Pori Jazz Festival.

The most prominent live music event for 2004 is Kalaniemi’s appearance at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on Sept 30 as special guest with JPP and the BBC Concert Orchestra. The concert entitled Nordic Adventures, presented by Fiona Talkngton of Radio 3 Late Junction, features Kalaniemi / Alakotila duets and a newly commissioned piece by Alakotila for accordion, orchestra and JPP.

Additional projects for Kalaniemi include work with opera singer Jorma Hynninen and pianist Timo Alakotila. Further, she has composed music for the Finnish National Theatre production of Niskavuoren Nuori Emäntä, with the premiere in December 2004 and continuing successfully through November 2005.

Career highlights for 2005 include the release of the documentary film about the Accordion Tribe, entitled Music Travels. The film, now released on DVD, has won 3 prizes this year: Swiss ART TV - Best Film of the Year,  Swiss Film Prize  - Best Documentary,  Wurzburg Film Festival  - Best Documentary .  Both Accordion Tribe CDs have been released internationally and feature Maria and other Tribe members Lars Hollmer (Sweden), Guy Klucevsek (USA), Otto Lechner (Austria) and Bratko Bibic (Slovenia).

In mid 2005, The Arts Council of Finland appointed Maria Kalaniemi one of four new Artist Professors for five years term alongside composer Kaija Saariaho, writer Olli Jalonen and artist Juho Karjalainen. This is the second time the Professorship has been awarded to a composer/musician from the folk music field.

On November 2, 2005, Kalaniemi released her new solo album Bellow Poetry. Previews of this music were released in 2003 in limited edition with the book of photography entitled Finlandia by Rax Rinnekangas. Bellow Poetry , which spent 3 months in the World Music Europe charts is released in Europe by Aito Records and Intuition Music. In North America, the album was released by Alula Records.

Maria and Olli Varis performed Bellow Poetry concerts in 2006 in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.  Maria Kalaniemi Trio will perform in USA in September 2006.

Also in 2006, the Accordion Tribe released their third album, Lunghorn Twist, via Intuition Music of Germany.  It was picked "Top of the World" by Songlines Magazine and received a 5 star review.  Their fourth European tour takes place Oct 23-Nov 3.