Kirsi-Marja “Kiki” Harju
trumpet player, vocalist, composer
Kirsi-Marja “Kiki” Harju is a Finnish musician (trp, voc), composer and educator based in Amsterdam since 2015. From 2011 she has worked, both as a leader and sidewoman, with a wide range of groups and music styles both in Finland and in the Netherlands, from orchestras and big bands to duos and pop-groups, performing in large variety of venues and festivals around Europe, for example Oslo Jazz Festival (NO), Pori Jazz (FI), St.Petersburg Filharmonic Hall (RU), De Doelen (NL), Moods Zürich (CH), King Georg Cologne (DE) and Roma Antwerp (BE). Last year her quartet KAMA Kollektiv released their 3rd album with Dutch label SONNA Records, celebrating with a 14-concert-long release tour in The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. The album has received positive reviews and radio plays from all over Europe and beyond. A part of their concert recording from Schlot in Berlin was included in the Dave Douglas-led ”Festival of New Trumpet Music” (FONT) 2024 program. The group showcased at jazzahead’s digital edition in 2021. More info: https://linktr.ee/kamakollektiv
Currently Harju is working on a duo project with pianist Ida Alanen and writing new music for different occasions. Nordic jazz, folk, minimalism, improvisation, simplistic beauty & melodies, and stories of small things of the everyday life are central at her work. Harju is experimenting with electronic setups for her instruments and creating a solo performance as part of her artistic master’s research at HKU Utrechts Conservatorium.
With her art Harju wants to create different spaces for her listeners and offer a moment of pause in the form of an engaging sonic experience.
- ”I’m looking for new collaborations and hoping to expand my network at jazzahead this year. Most importantly I’m looking forward to feel connected & be in the powerful presence of the jazz community. I hope to meet you in Bremen!”