Arto Järvelä

A founding member of JPP, widely regarded as Finland’s leading ensemble, Arto Jarvela has guided the direction of the country’s tradition-rooted music for more than twenty years. He was only seventeen when JPP first drew worldwide notice, yet he has kept evolving the band’s sound through fresh arrangements, contemporary harmonies, and elements drawn from Swedish folk traditions. Independently, he issued two distinctive solo recordings—Polska Differente in 1994, supported by an array of guest musicians, and Arto Jarvela Plays Violin in 1999, which highlighted his unaccompanied technique. After completing studies in the Folk Music Department of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Jarvela established JPP—originally called Jarvelan Pikkupelimannit—alongside his brother Jouni on bass, fiddle players Jarmo and Juha Varila, and harmonium player Timo Alokila. Although the lineup has shifted repeatedly, Jarvela and Alokila are the sole original members still active. Parallel to his work with JPP, Jarvela has performed in numerous other groups, including earlier stints with Niekku, Tallari, Ampron Prunni, Koinurit, and Salamakkel; at present he appears with Pinnin Pojat, Maria Kalaniemi’s Aldargaz, and the Helsinki Mandoliners while also instructing at the Sibelius Academy.