Reiska Laine with Friends

(FIN)

Thoroughly experienced and nationally perhaps the best known of all Finnish jazz drummers, Reino Laine is the only other musician beside Ted Curson, who has played at every Pori Jazz Festival and also on many other major jazz festivals, like Montreaux and Newport.

Starting his professional career in the mid-60’s ”Reiska”, a still devout jammer, spent early on a year in the USA utilizing every opportunity to play with the American heavies, like saxists Dexter Gordon, Clifford Jordan and Charlie Mariano. His number one influence is the late great Tony Williams. Laine has been a percussionist at the Helsinki City Theater.
Of his many fine ensembles, two must be mentioned: master reedsman Juhani Aaltonen’s The Finnish Middle Aged All Stars from the 80’s and The 90’s Reiska Laine Band featuring only Finnish ”Jazz Grammy” recipients, in other words class A players: reedsman Eero Koivistoinen, pianist Seppo Kantonen, saxist Jukka Perko and bassist Häkä Virtanen. Laine has done a lot of work for jazz in many musical committees and also as a member of the Finnish Parliament.