Teemu Viinikainen (b. 1975, Hankasalmi) is one of Finland's most respected jazz guitarists, holding a master's degree from the Sibelius Academy and having studied under Pat Metheny and Wayne Krantz. He rose to prominence with the Blue Note-signed quintet U-Street All Stars in the early 2000s and has since collaborated with international names such as Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker and Dave Liebman. His awards include the Finnish Jazz Federation's Yrjö Prize and a Sony Jazz Award. The current Teemu Viinikainen Trio - with drummer Joonas Riippa and bassist Oliver Karttunen - plays Viinikainen's own compositions, blending blues-tinged lyricism with a deep jazz groove.
Teemu Viinikainen Trio performed at Flame Jazz Club in Turku on 5 December 2025, shortly after Viinikainen's 50th birthday.
Viinikainen celebrated his 50th birthday with a concert at G Livelab Helsinki on 3 September 2025, featuring saxophonist Jukka Perko and the new trio.
Viinikainen appeared with UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra and Jukka Perko at Musiikkitalo Helsinki on 20 September 2025.
Viinikainen performed at the April Jazz festival in Espoo with his Electrick formation in April 2025, drawing praise from the press.
Viinikainen released his fifth solo album, Songs of Silence, on 18 November 2022 - a set of solo guitar arrangements of compositions by Monk, Mingus, Sting and others.
