Jazz night at Lulu’s: piano

Riitta Paakki has been playing the piano since the age of 6, the decision to pursue a career as a professional pianist took a long time to mature. Her early graduation was at Lahti’s music college, where Riitta was able to play not only classical but also entertainment and pop music under the guidance of an open-minded teacher.

Her exploration of jazz went through lighter styles to Oscar Peterson and Charlie Parker. Pesti Lahti introduced the pianist to the basic repertoire of jazz in the Big Band as a high school student.

In the fall of 1995, Paakki began her studies at the jazz department of the Sibelius Academy, where the most important teachers were Seppo Kantonen and Jukkis Uotila. According to Paakki herself, the line of the jazz department suited her really well, and in 2016 Paakki earned her doctorate in jazz music.