Orasmaa, Sanni

vocals

sanni

Sanni Orasmaa, a musician of Finnish origin, works internationally as a vocal stylist, composer, teacher and certified motivational coach. During her time in New York (2000-2007) she performed at The Knitting Factory, Rainbow Room, Sweet Basil, Blue Note and Cornelia Street Cafe, among others. She played regularly at the Smoke Jazz Club. She has worked internationally with Charlie Hunter - Bobby Previte Duo, Kirk Nurock's "Cross-Species" Ensemble and the Swiss composer George Gruntz (jazz opera "Magic of a Flute"). Sanni has been awarded Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Fellowship (Kennedy Center 2000) and the American Scandinavian Society's Artist Grant (2005). She was part of Branford Marsalis' NPR's Jazz Set program and was featured in PRI's Jazz Smithsonian documentary series "The Jazz Singers" by Al Jarreau. Sanni has held workshops all over the world. She has held and continues to hold the following teaching positions: Brooklyn Conservatory, NYC (2001-2007), Pop&Jazz Conservatory, Finland (2007-2014), University of Tampere, Finland (2014-2016), University of Arts in Helsinki, Finland (since 2014) and at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München (since 2008). She founded SoundByNature GmbH, which combines creative voice work, improvisation and nature experiences for nature-oriented performance training.

»It seems very hard to describe Sanni's path, which tracks somewhere between Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Karin Krog, AbbeyLincoln and Cassandra Wilson. It's not a copy of any above, due to be influenced by Lappish (Sami) joikh for example.« Dziennik Polski Krakow, Poland

»...the dark timbre of her voice provided immediate authority with a breathtaking interpretation of an Ivan Lins tune. Oliver Nelson'sStolen Moments and John Coltrane's Naima followed and let the listeners forget all the evilness of this world...« Die Presse Vienna, Austria

Performances (Selection):
Panevezys Jazz Festival; Panevezys, Lithuania; 1989, July Jazz Festival; Amherst, MA, USA; 1996 and 1998, Porgy and Bess; Vienna, Austria; 1996, May Festival; Krakow, Poland; 1998 and 1999, July Jazz Festival; Krakow, Poland; 1998, 1999 and 2000, Vawel Jazz Festival; Krakow, Poland; 1999, Pori Jazz Festival; Pori, Finland; 2000, 2001 and 2005, Various performances with George Gruntz; USA, Germany, Austria; 2006-2007.

Publications (Selection):
M.A.R.S.: M.A.R.S. (1996) IKACD-006, Boston Promenade: Walking The Big Duck (1997) BPCD4, Himbeerorchester: Tief In der Haut und Hoch In der Luft (1999) 150 761-2, KUG: The Dukebox - A Celebration Of The Music Of E.K. Ellington (1999) KUG 17, Clay Giberson: The Upper Road (2002) Origin 82397, Mika Pohjola: The Music Of Mika Pohjola (2002) Change Records, Lakis Tzimkas: Many Faces (2004), Mika Pohjola: Scandinavian Yuletide Voices (2004) Change Records, Mika Pohjola, Henrik Lambert, Sanni Orasmaa, Eeppi Ursin: A Lark in a Snowstorm: Celebrating the Music of Toivo Kärki (2005), Change Records, Dave Hopkins: Live from Smith’s (2006) Sea Change Records, RinneRadio: On (2007) Rockadillo.