Heikki Sarmanto (b. 1939, Helsinki) is a Finnish jazz pianist and composer whose work spans jazz, classical and orchestral music. He studied at the Sibelius Academy and later at Berklee College of Music in Boston (1968-1971), won top prizes at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1971 in both the piano and ensemble categories, and has collaborated with Sonny Rollins, Art Farmer, Helen Merrill and George Russell, among others. With around 40 recordings to his name and major works such as New Hope Jazz Mass and the Suomi Symphony - which premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1988 - he is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in Finnish jazz history.
Pamela Kilpeläinen and Heikki Sarmanto Trio performed at Café Carusel in Helsinki on 20 May 2026, presenting material from the 2024 album Stjärnenatten.
Sarmanto and vocalist Pamela Kilpeläinen released the album Stjärnenatten (Alba Records), featuring settings of poems by Edith Södergran and Eino Leino.
Jazz Journal published a review of New Hope Jazz Mass, calling it a landmark of Finnish jazz that crosses genre boundaries with courage.
😴 Nothing scheduled with this artist in the near future.
98festivalThu 8.10.Timo Lassy - When the Saxophone Returns
97festivalFri 14.8.Flow Festival 2026
91concertThu 3.9.Olli Ahvenlahti New Quintet
91concertFri 9.10.Timo Lassy - When the Saxophone Returns (concert + film screening)
88concertWed 2.9.Olli Ahvenlahti New Quintet
83concertSat 12.9.Jukka Perko & Jay Kortehisto: Foxtet
64concertThu 3.9.Jukka Perko plays Charlie Parker with Strings
64concertThu 10.9.Jukka Perko plays Charlie Parker with Strings
60concertFri 28.8.Viapori Jazz: Timo Lassy - When the Saxophone Returns
57concertFri 14.8.Jukka Tolonen Ramblin' Jazz Quartet
57concertThu 24.9.Timo Lassy & Niko Kumpuvaara
concert21:30Two legendary jazz musicians take the stage together. Heikki Sarmanto and Juhani Aaltonen, pioneers of Finnish jazz, perform a rare duo concert.
concert18:00Legendary pianist Heikki Sarmanto performs with Jyväskylä Workshop Band in this festival closing concert. The programme spans multiple eras and features the world premiere of a new composition dedicated to the festival.