Biography
Finnish trumpeter Jukka Eskola focuses on groove-driven jazz, updated fusion, soul-jazz, bossa nova, and other rhythm-centered approaches marked by a polished tone and vigorous soloing. He first surfaced during the 1990s alongside the Nuspirit Helsinki collective and later joined the Five Corners Quintet, issuing his self-titled debut as leader in 2005 with saxophonist Timo Lassy aboard. Following a second album by that same ensemble, Walkover (2009), he issued the bossa nova project Orquesta Bossa, which paired a jazz quintet with a string quartet. In 2017 he unveiled the debut recording by his newly formed Soul Trio, devoted to soul-jazz, and the follow-up Steamy! arrived in 2019. Across the same span he stayed active as a sideman and session player, appearing on releases by Jimi Tenor, Kerkko Koskinen, Mikko Innanen, Pentti Hietanen, Jussi Lampela, Hedvig Hanson, and numerous additional artists. In 2024 Eskola reunited with Lassy for Nordic Stew, recorded with a contingent of New Orleans jazz musicians.
Born in Espoo, Finland, in June 1978, Eskola grew up in Kuopio. He began trumpet studies at age nine and trained at the Kuopio Conservatory. In 1998 he enrolled at the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatoire before continuing at the Sibelius Academy toward a master’s degree. His recording career began in the late 1990s with Nuspirit Helsinki productions, after which he became a member of the Five Corners Quintet and remained with the group through several albums until 2010.
Eskola’s first leader date, the funk-oriented self-titled album from 2005, featured saxophonist Timo Lassy together with pianist Jukkis Uotila, bassist Antti Lötjönen, and drummer-keyboardist Teppo Mäkynen. He received the Sony Jazz Award in 2006 and was named Musician of the Year at the 2007 Pori Jazz festival. After completing the Japan-only Freddie Hubbard tribute Hub Up, again with Lassy, he returned in 2009 with Walkover, using the same personnel as his debut.
While contributing to sessions by Pentti Hietanen, Hedvig Hanson, Jimi Tenor, Markus Väisänen, and others, Eskola also appeared as featured soloist on Lampela X Eskola, the 2010 Jussi Lampela Nonet album. His next leader effort, Orquesta Bossa (2013), merged bossa nova jazz with string quartet textures and included Mäkynen, bassist Ville Herrala, guitarist Peter Engberg, and saxophonist Petri Puolitaival. During this period he also recorded with Kerkko Koskinen, Juha Tapio, Jussi Fredriksson, and Mikko Innanen, among further collaborators.
In 2017 Eskola launched the soul-jazz trio featuring bassist Mikko Helevä and drummer Teppo Mäkynen; the ensemble can be heard on Soul Trio (2017) and Steamy! (2019). The group performed at the 2018 BMW Welt Jazz competition in Munich. In 2024 the trumpeter issued Nordic Stew with Timo Lassy, recorded alongside New Orleans jazz musicians that included trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis.
Born in Espoo, Finland, in June 1978, Eskola grew up in Kuopio. He began trumpet studies at age nine and trained at the Kuopio Conservatory. In 1998 he enrolled at the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatoire before continuing at the Sibelius Academy toward a master’s degree. His recording career began in the late 1990s with Nuspirit Helsinki productions, after which he became a member of the Five Corners Quintet and remained with the group through several albums until 2010.
Eskola’s first leader date, the funk-oriented self-titled album from 2005, featured saxophonist Timo Lassy together with pianist Jukkis Uotila, bassist Antti Lötjönen, and drummer-keyboardist Teppo Mäkynen. He received the Sony Jazz Award in 2006 and was named Musician of the Year at the 2007 Pori Jazz festival. After completing the Japan-only Freddie Hubbard tribute Hub Up, again with Lassy, he returned in 2009 with Walkover, using the same personnel as his debut.
While contributing to sessions by Pentti Hietanen, Hedvig Hanson, Jimi Tenor, Markus Väisänen, and others, Eskola also appeared as featured soloist on Lampela X Eskola, the 2010 Jussi Lampela Nonet album. His next leader effort, Orquesta Bossa (2013), merged bossa nova jazz with string quartet textures and included Mäkynen, bassist Ville Herrala, guitarist Peter Engberg, and saxophonist Petri Puolitaival. During this period he also recorded with Kerkko Koskinen, Juha Tapio, Jussi Fredriksson, and Mikko Innanen, among further collaborators.
In 2017 Eskola launched the soul-jazz trio featuring bassist Mikko Helevä and drummer Teppo Mäkynen; the ensemble can be heard on Soul Trio (2017) and Steamy! (2019). The group performed at the 2018 BMW Welt Jazz competition in Munich. In 2024 the trumpeter issued Nordic Stew with Timo Lassy, recorded alongside New Orleans jazz musicians that included trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis.
Albums
Singles
