Heikki Sarmanto

Finnish pianist/composer Heikki Sarmanto's music has as much to do with European classical music and his country’s traditional folk music as it does with jazz. While American audiences may be familiar with Sarmanto via his work with American stars Sonny Rollins and Art Farmer, he’s something of a legend in Finland, where he has over two dozen albums to his credit. Whereas some works by ambitious composers can be daunting, Sarmanto doesn’t forsake cheerfulness and immediacy.