Olavi Louhivuori

Olavi Louhivuori (born 13 July 1981 in Jyväskylä, Finland) is a Finnish jazz drummer and composer, the leader of his own ensemble Oddarrang, and also performer within several other bands. He is married to the singer Emma Salokoski.

Career Louhivuori was raised in a musical family. His father Jukka Louhivuori is professor at the Department of Music University of Jyväskylä and his mother, a violinist and music educator. Each of the five children in his family was taught to play instruments. Louhivuori started to play violin at four, and changed to cello and piano when eight. When he was nine years of age he changed to drums and founded his first band together with classmate Joona Toivanen.

Bands While a student at the Sibelius Academy, he met pianist Tuomo Prättälä, bassist Antti Lötjönen and trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, with whom he in 2002 founded the band Ilmiliekki Quartet. In 2003 their debut album March of the Alpha Males appeared, followed in 2006 by Take It With Me.

Louhivuori founded the Finnish experimental jazz ensemble Oddarrang in 2003. The band includes trombonist Ilmari Pohjola, cellist Osmo Ikonen, guitarist Lasse Sakara, as well as bassist Lasse Lindgren. Oddarrang's debut album Music Illustrated (2006), was awarded the Jazz-Emma award in 2006. This is a solo percussion album, where Louhivuori demonstrates his broad abilities. Tomasz Stanko, Jon Balke, Marilyn Crispell, Teppo Hauta-aho, Jukka Perko, Sakari Kukko and M. A. Numminen.

Collaborations With Joona Toivanen Trio 2000: Numurkah (JTT Records) 2002: Enchantment (JTT Records) 2006: Frost (Blue Note)

With Ilmiliekki Quartet 2003: March of the Alpha Males (TUM Records) 2006: Take It With Me (TUM Records)

With Ilmiliekki Quartet (Tuomo Prättälä, Antti Lötjönen, Verneri Pohjola) 2003: March of the Alpha Males (TUM Records) 2006: Take It With Me (TUM Records) 2009: Vi Sålde Våra Hemman (KHY Suomen Musiikki Oy), with Emma Salokoski

Alexi Tuomarila Trio (Mats Eilertsen) 2006: Constellation (Jazzaway) 2013: Seven Hills (Edition Records) 2017: Kingdom (Edition Records))

With Piirpauke 2006: Kalabalik

With Tomasz Stanko Quintet 2009: Dark Eyes (ECM)

With Mats Eilertsen 2009: Radio Yonder (Hubro), including with Tore Brunborg and Thomas T. Dahl 2016: Rubicon (ECM), with Eirik Hegdal, Thomas T Dahl, Trygve Seim, and Harmen Fraanje (commission for the 2014 Vossajazz)

With Mark O'Leary 2012: Astral Fishing Extended Edition (TIB Production Italy), including with Teppa Hauta-aho

With Yelena Eckemoff 2017: Blooming Tall Phlox (L&H Production) 2021: Adventures of the Wildflower (L&H Production)