Artist: Tuomo Uusitalo

Tuomo Uusitalo started playing the piano at the age of six. As a teenager he played various types of music from classical to pop/rock and soon became fascinated by jazz and the possibilities of spontaneous improvisation.

During his music studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz he had the opportunity to work with jazz musicians such as Bob Brookmeyer, Billy Hart, Curtis Fuller, Jim Rotondi and Jimmy Cobb. Since 2007 he has played and toured all over Europe as a solo pianist and with various ensembles from piano trios to big bands.

After graduating with honors from the University of Graz in 2012, he moved to New York City, where he has lived ever since. He regularly performs in clubs and venues around the city, including jazz clubs such as Smalls , Mezzrow, Fat Cat, Zinc Bar, Cornelia Street Cafe, Shapeshifter Lab, Cleopatras Needle, Garage, University of the Streets and Arturo's.

During his time in New York, he played with jazz musicians such as Curtis Lundy, Tyler Mitchell, David Schnitter, Jeff Hirshfield, Johnny O'Neal, Greg Bandy, Philip Harper, Ulysses Owens Jr., Dayna Stephens, Obed Calvaire, Rich Perry, Josh Evans, Brandon Lewis, Gerry Gibbs, Luques Curtis and Alexander Claffy.