Aarni Häkkinen is a trombone player, composer, arranger and conductor based in
Helsinki, Finland. He’s best known for his work with different big bands in Finland and
internationally. As a trombone player he has played with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra,
Espoo Big Band, Euroradio Jazz Orchestra and Quarantine Big Band Helsinki.
Häkkinen also played on Ron Carter’s big band album Remembering Bob Freedman
which was nominated for a Grammy-award in 2023. As a band leader Häkkinen has had
succes especially with big bands: In 2018 his own Roast Burn Big Band won the
coveted Finnish Big Band Championship while he was only 21-years old. His big band
compositions and arrangements have been performed by UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra
in addition to his own Aarni Häkkinen Jazz Orchestra and Aarni Häkkinen Standard
Time Big Band. On top of the big bands he also fronts his own quartet with Mikael
Jakobsson (piano), Tuomas Talvi (bass) and Arttu Huopainen (drums).