Arto Järvelä / Arto Jarvela

A founding member of Finland's top band, JPP, Arto Jarvela has helped to steer the course of Finland's tradition-rooted music for more than two decades. Only seventeen when he and JPP first attracted international attention, Jarvela has continued to incorporate new arrangements, modern harmonies and influences from Swedish folk music. On his own, Jarvela has released two memorable solo albums — Polska Differente, in 1994, which featured accompaniment from a variety of supporting musicians, and Arto Jarvela Plays Violin, in 1999, which showcased his solo playing. A graduate of the Folk Music Department at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Jarvela formed JPP, originally known as Jarvelan Pikkupelimannit, with his brother, Jouni, on bass, brothers Jarmo and Juha Varila on fiddles and Timo Alokila on harmonium. The group has subsequently undergone numerous personnel changes with only Jarvela and Alokila remaining from the original band. Jarvela has balanced his involvement with JPP with his participation with many other bands. A former member of Niekku, Tallari, Ampron Prunni, Koinurit and Salamakkel, he currently plays with Pinnin Pojat, Maria Kalaniemi's Aldargaz and the Helsinki Mandoliners. He also teaches at the Sibelius Academy.