Iro Haarla
Picture of Iro Haarla
Haarla in 2014
Background information
Born (1956-11-07) 7 November 1956
Tampere, Finland
GenresJazz
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, harpsichord, accordion
Labels
WebsiteOfficial website

Iro Haarla (born 7 November 1956) is a Finnish jazz pianist and harpist, as well as composer and band leader.[1]

Career

At the Sibelius Academy, in Helsinki, Haarla studied classical piano under Izumi Tateno, musical composition under Einar Englund, and improvisation under Heikki Sarmanto.[1][2] She was initially intending to become a concert pianist, but pivoted to jazz upon meeting the jazz drummer Edward Vesala in 1978.[3]

She first became known as the arranger of the works of Vesala for his 'Sound & Fury' ensemble.[4] They went on to collaborate extensively over two decades, and in a 2008 Washington Post interview, she stated that during that time she did not play her own music at all but was instead totally focused on supporting Vesala.[5] As part of her support role she also broadened her instrument repertoire to keyboards, the accordion and especially the harp, in which she is entirely self-taught.[5][3]

Vesala died in 1999, and afterwards Haarla launched her solo career, performing in and leading numerous ensembles.[3] She also went on to record several albums, both as a leader and ensemble artist.[3]

Haarla's music has been characterised as "sit[ting] at that mystical halfway point between improv and composition".[6] Her piano-playing has been described as having a "weightless, displaced" quality, and her harp "delicate romanticism".[6]

Recognition

Haarla has received two Emma awards for the jazz record of the year, in 2005 (Penguin Beguine) and 2011 (Vespers).[7]

In 2006, she was awarded the Yrjö prize by the Finnish Jazz Federation.[8]

In 2018, Haarla received the Ted Curson award at the Pori Jazz Festival.[2]

In 2020, she was recognised with the Suomen Jazzlegenda (lit. 'Jazz Legend of Finland') award.[9]

Personal life

Iro Haarla's parents were the actor Saulo Haarla and his first wife, opera singer Helena Salonius.

Haarla was married to Edward Vesala, until his death in 1999.[1]

Later she married the bassist Ulf Krokfors, with whom both herself and Vesala had collaborated extensively.[10]

Discography

  • Yarra Yarra (2001), with Pertti Päivinen
  • Heart of a Bird (2003)
  • Northbound (2005)
  • Penguin Beguine (2005), with Haarla-Krokfors Loco Motife
  • The Sky Is Ruby (2007)
  • Vespers (2011), with Iro Haarla Quintet
  • Kolibri (2013), with Iro Haarla Sextet
  • Kirkastus (2015)
  • Vodjanoi (2020)

[1][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Iro Haarla". Finnish Jazz Federation. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Biography". IroHaarla.net. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Collar, Matt. "Iro Haarla – Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "CD Review: Iro Haarla Quintet – Vespers". London Jazz News. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Nordic Jazz 08: Iro Haarla". The Washington Post. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Review of Iiro Haarla – Northbound". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Emma Gaala". EmmaGaala.fi (in Finnish). IFPI Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "National activities". Finnish Jazz Federation. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Suomen Jazzlegenda -palkinnot Wiola Talvikille ja Iro Haarlalle" (in Finnish). Keskisuomalainen. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  10. ↑ Silas, Petri (25 April 2017). "Special Touch". Finnish Music Quarterly. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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