Maja Mannila

Maja Mannila is a young and impressive jazz/soul singer, pianist and composer. Together with her band she performs her own songs in English, in a style combining r'n'b, soul, jazz and gospel. She grew up in a musician family and has a steady grip of musicianship, but at the same time she points out the importance of freedom and fun when it comes to creating and playing music. In the future Mannila strives towards recording and performing internationally both with her ensemble and as solo artist. Maja's talent has also been spotted by English drummer Richard Spaven and singer Anthony Strong, who have invited Maja to perform with them. In Maja Mannila Trio she plays together with Severi Sorjonen (drums) and Johannes Granroth (bass). Maja Mannila Trio was selected for the 2023 Nordic Jazz Comets event to represent Finnish new jazz. Internationally the band has performed in Germany, Slovenia, England and Estonia. In April 2023, Maja also performed two concerts as soloist with the Kaunas Big Band in Lithuania with her own material. Maja is also a member of the young and rising ensemble Peela. In 2021-22 Maja played and singed in pianist Iiro Rantala's new trio Flock which toured in Central Europe.

Maja's debut album "Up & Down" was well received by the domestic media in June 2022. Her second album "Seasons" was released on 16th November 2023.

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"Hailing from Helsinki the trio is led by Maja, a singer, composer and pianist with a truly unique tone and incredible vocal control. I was able to kick back on a deck chair and enjoy their original music, which combined old skool soul with its slapping funk bass with drawn back moments of exposed instrumentals forefronted by Maja’s whistle tones and scatting that stopped passers by in their tracks."

Georgie Harold-Moss, Manchester Jazz Festival 2024

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"The band, playfully combining new age soul with jazz, offers an international soundscape that would certainly appeal to those aforementioned youngsters."

Aleksi Näsänen, Turun Sanomat 4.3.2023

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"In a performance by a talented trio, the spotlight is on Mannila herself, whose deep and honeyed voice is one of the best to be found in this country. Mannila's vocal delivery is natural and effortless, suveneer in its skill."

Aleksi Näsänen, Turun Sanomat 4.3.2023

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"Att Up & Down uttryckligen är Maja Mannilas skiva står ändå klart, så till vida att hon inte bara själv står för samtliga elva låtarna – inklusive ett kortare intro och mellanspel – utan i synnerhet för att texterna har en så påfallande personlig prägel. Och att hon verkligen är en speciell sångarförmåga med ett brett uttryck går inte att ta miste på."

Ralf Sandell, Hufvudstadsbladet 18.8.2022