Kaisa's Machine

Kaisa's Machine operates as a collective under the direction of Finnish bassist Kaisa Mäensivu, whose approach fuses Nordic jazz traditions with the harmonically adventurous New York post-bop style. The group first appeared on record with the 2017 release In the key of K before attracting broader notice through its 2023 Greenleaf album Taking Shape.

Mäensivu, born in Finland in 1990, trained at Helsinki's Sibelius Academy and assembled the initial incarnation of Kaisa's Machine to record In the key of K. She relocated to New York City that same year to complete a master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where she assembled the present lineup by teaming with drummer and creative partner Joe Peri, tenor saxophonist/bass clarinetist Tivon Pennicott, guitarist Max Light, and pianist Eden Ladin. The ensemble then joined trumpeter Dave Douglas' Greenleaf Music and issued its sophomore effort, 2023's Taking Shape. Featuring vibraphonist Sasha Berliner as a guest, the album highlighted the band's integration of atmospheric modal jazz, Latin rhythms, and contemporary fusion grooves.