Juha Kujanpää - Kultasiipi - Goldwing (2015)

Juha Kujanpää (b.1974) is a Finnish composer and musician who operates masterfully in the no-man’s land between folk music, jazz and rock.

Kujanpää’s most recent works include his solo albums “Tales and Travels” (Kivenpyörittäjä), 2013 and “Goldwing” (Kultasiipi) 2015. “Tales and Travels” was selected as one of the best albums of 2013 by the leading Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat. The band, Juha Kujanpää Ensemble, was also nominated as the Band of the Year of Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2014.

Kujanpää's music has been released lately also on folk music influenced albums Kirjava lintu: “Unilintu” (2012), Osiris-trio: “Synty” (2011) and Karuna: “Hyvää matkaa/Bon Voyage” (2010). His vocal music composed to poems of Finnish poets has been released on “Kirjava lintu” (2007) (poetry by e.g. Helvi Hämäläinen, Hannele Huovi, Lauri Pohjanpää) and Kentauri: “Että rauha pysyisi” (2004) (poetry by Pentti Saarikoski).

Kujanpää’s works for theatre over the last few years include “An Operetta for Hope / Toivon operetti” (Rovaniemi Theatre 2011, Radio Theatre/YLE 2010, HTT 2008), “Zukkapaitupumbula” (Dance performance for babies, Loiske Ensemble 2012), “Legend of Birth”, (Osiris Theatre 2008-10), “Tippa / Last Call”, monologue of Juha Hippi 2011) and “Kuolemansyntejä, paratiisiuutisia” (Valkeakoski City Theatre 2010).

Kujanpää is working as a musician in bands Karuna, Captain Cougar, Ikiranka, Ville Ojanen Band, children music band FlipFlop and improvisation theatre group Häpeämättömät. He has performed as a guest musician in albums by e.g. Dave Lindholm, Nikolai Blad, Riku Keskinen, Dile Kolanen and Joakim Berghäll.