Raoul Björkenheim

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Raoul Bjorkenheim)
Raoul Björkenheim
Raoul Bjorkenheim at Moers Festival, Germany, 2006
Raoul Bjorkenheim at Moers Festival, Germany, 2006
Background information
Born (1956-02-11) February 11, 1956 (age 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresAvant-garde jazz, electronic
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1980s–present
LabelsECM, Cuneiform, Rune Grammofon
Websiteraoulbjorkenheim.com

Raoul Melvin Björkenheim (born February 11, 1956) is a Finnish-American jazz guitarist, who has lived in Helsinki,[1] New York,[1] and Los Angeles.[2]

His mother is Finnish-American actress Taina Elg.[3] In his teens he moved to Finland.[2] He attended the Helsinki Conservatory and the Berklee School of Music.[2] His professional career began in the 1980s with Finnish jazz drummer Edward Vesala.[4] After recording three albums with Vesla, he formed Krakatau.[2][4] During the 1990s he reduced the band to a trio. He recorded an album with guitarist Nicky Skopelitis that was produced by Bill Laswell.[4]

Björkenheim has composed for the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and the UMO Jazz Orchestra[2] and worked as a soloist with the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.[4] He recorded three albums for Rune Grammofon in the Scorch Trio with Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums).[4] Other collaborators include Hamid Drake, William Parker, Kalle Kalima,[4] and the band Kvalda.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Raoul Björkenheim - Bio". raoulbjorkenheim.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gronow, Pekka (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 223. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.
  3. ^ Finlands ridderskaps och adels kalender 1992, pp. 92–93. Esbo 1991. ISBN 951-9417-26-5
  4. ^ a b c d e f Dorsch, Jim. "Raoul Björkenheim". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Raoul Björkenheim Ecstasy – Biography". Jazz Finland. Retrieved 6 July 2019.

External links[edit]