Drummer, percussionist, musician

A Helsinki-based drummer and percussionist with a music degree. I play jazz, big band, theatre and dance music, record drum tracks, and teach at the Vuosaari music institute.

I have played the drums since I was four, and the performances now run past a thousand. My studies began at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory, and I graduated from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in spring 2025 as a Bachelor of Culture and Arts, majoring in drums. My thesis examined how Roy Haynes varies his comping on the album Misterioso. Before that I did my military service in the Guards Band — over sixty performances in nine months.

As a freelancer I play jazz, big band, church, dance orchestra and theatre productions. With the Metropolia Big Band I played dozens of productions over five years under Antti Rissanen: Thad Jones / Mel Lewis, Henry Mancini 100 vuotta, Swinging Christmas. The musical Lumen taju put me behind the percussion, and Tanssiyhtye Voimaorkesteri took me on a national tour. Most of this work means learning a programme fast and keeping to the schedule.

I teach drums at the Vuosaari music institute. I have also taught at the Vantaa adult education institute, led bands at HKMK, and covered band coaching at Helao. In my own project, Joppo Matikainen, I compose and arrange, record in my home studio, mix and edit the videos myself — and release the finished result on YouTube.