Ville “Tri” Tolvanen Trio
Ville “Tri” Tolvanen is a virtuosic pianist and a soulful
blues singer from Kotka’s Kymi River Delta, now
based in Lahti. He’s widely regarded as Finland’s
leading blues pianist, channeling the raw energy of
Chicago and New Orleans piano traditions.
His style blends the swagger of Jelly Roll Morton, the
groove of Professor Longhair, and the soul of Ray
Charles—played with real keys, sweat, and swing.
Inspired by Booker, Dr. John, Otis Spann, and Jerry
Lee Lewis, Ville fuses blues with jazz, funk, and
Caribbean rhythms into a sound all of his own.
Tolvanen has appeared on stage and recorded with numerous Finnish roots music
bands, also collaborated with several international blues greats, such as Taildragger, Nick
Moss and Sheryl Youngblood. He has toured Finland and the world with Ismo Haavisto,
Knucklebone Oscar, Tina Bednoff, Timmy Heikkilä and Robbie Hill, among others