Aki Rissanen Solo

Aki Rissanen is one of the leading figures of Finnish jazz and a recognized voice in the European jazz scene. Originally classically trained, Rissanen has built an international reputation through his compelling trio work, adventurous solo projects, and collaborations with top-tier artists. His acclaimed debut album Amorandom (Edition Records, 2016) with the Aki Rissanen Trio received glowing reviews in The Guardian, Jazzwise, and Helsingin Sanomat, which named it “Best Jazz Album of the Year.” He actively tours internationally and has lived and worked in France for three years, during which he deepened his artistic development and expanded his international network.

In his new solo program, Rissanen draws inspiration from the true rock star of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci. The performance explores da Vinci’s hidden musical legacy through his own musical ideas, compositions from the period, and works from Aki Rissanen’s Divided Horizon album (2021). The music is performed on piano along with the unique Omniwerk instrument, reconstructed from historical prototypes.

Although none of da Vinci’s compositions have survived in notated form, melodic traces and rhythmic puzzles can be found in his notebook, the Codex Atlanticus. From these fragments emerges a new musical language that transforms da Vinci’s ideas into sound. The music moves between the atmospheres of the Renaissance and Baroque eras, minimalist techno, and the textures of modern jazz. The program also features interpretations of composers such as Carlo Gesualdo and Josquin des Prez—a dialogue between past and present.

At the heart of the concert are the piano and the Omniwerk, a unique instrument designed by Finnish builders Jukka Ollikka and Jonte Knif. It combines two historical keyboard instruments: the Geigenwerk (or Viola Organista, originally conceived by Leonardo) and the Lautenwerk, a Baroque keyboard lute. Its two manuals allow for simultaneous playing, while an innovative mechanism enables the strings to be either bowed or plucked. As a result, the instrument can evoke the sound of a harpsichord, a string ensemble, a hurdy-gurdy, or a harp.

Pianist and composer Aki Rissanen is known for seamlessly blending classical music with jazz improvisation. His international career and wide-ranging expression bring a distinctive and bold perspective to the Omniwerk—music in which the spirit of the Renaissance meets the energy of the present day.

Aki Rissanen – piano, Omniwerk