PEPA
Pertti "Pepa" Päivinen (b. 1955) is a multi-instrumentalist with an open mind and a boundary breaking attitude. In addition to the baritone sax, he masters the bass, tenor, alto and soprano sax, clarinet, bass clarinet and the whole flute family and some ethnic flutes as well. His earthy sound is one of the cornerstones of Finnish jazz.
His professional music career began in the 1970 and has been full of exciting musical endeavours. He has, among other things, been a mainstay at UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra since the 1980s, played in the Jukka Tolonen Band in the late 1970s, participated in the prestigious Edward Vesala Sound & Fury in 1984-85 and 1989-97, and toured with Anthony Braxton’s Ensemble Braxtonia. The deep sound of Päivinen’s baritone saxophone has attracted both domestic and international attention. |
AWARDS

Pekka Pöyry award 1984
Jazz-Emma 1999 (Umpsukkelis album)
Jazzliitto Yrjö award 2000
Suomen Muusikkojen Liitto recognition award 2003
Valtion taiteilijaeläke (artist's pension) 2017
Suomen orkesterilaitos golden medal 2018
Finnish Big Band Count Basie medal 2018
Finnish Jazzlegend nr.39 2022
Jazz-Emma 1999 (Umpsukkelis album)
Jazzliitto Yrjö award 2000
Suomen Muusikkojen Liitto recognition award 2003
Valtion taiteilijaeläke (artist's pension) 2017
Suomen orkesterilaitos golden medal 2018
Finnish Big Band Count Basie medal 2018
Finnish Jazzlegend nr.39 2022