- Born
- Birth nameTomi Oskari Vartiainen
- Height6′ 1½″ (1.87 m)
- An energetic, experimental guitarist who has studied in Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Sibelius Academy of Music under supervision of Raoul Bjorkenheim, Jukkis Uotila and Wayne Krantz. He rose to fame and leading guitarist position in Finland playing in every possible connections; in live concerts, studio sessions, television shows and theatre musicals among them. Varre Vartiainen is a competent guitar player, and an excellent multitalented pop, fusion and jazz-rock musician. Vartiainen's earlier band Gonzo toured Europe and Africa, where gigs in Spain, Namibia, South Africa and Montreaux Jazz Festival in France were among the highlights. Vartiainen's friend guitarist Marzi Nyman recommended him for a vacancy with Finland's most popular pop group Nylon Beat, and Vartiainen played with them two years. He later worked with Jim Beard touring Finland, then joined Leningrad Cowboys, the Finnish cult band that is known and has played in all continents of the world. The band performed in MTV Music Awards show in New York, Roskilde Festival in Denmark and starred several Leningrad Cowboys movies of Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki.- IMDb Mini Biography By: M.V.
- Made his recording debut as a leader with his band Husband in 2003. The record contains nine original compositions of Vartiainen that range from raunchy funk of "Sir Dalud", via jazzy "Baritone" and soft ballad "Le Mu" to percussive world music celebration of "Koiruus". The tight Husband consists of bassist Harri Rantanen and drummer Anssi Nykanen who have backed dozens of Finland's top artists together during the last two decades. They know each other well and you can hear that in their playing. Record's guest musicians are the cream of the crop in the Finnish music scene today: Abdissa "Mamba" Assefa increases the percussive power, saxophonist Timo Lassy brings in shades of classy, sophisticated contemporary jazz, vocalist Sami Pitkamo finesses the melodies and Timo Pratskin with keyboards, Jarmo Savolainen with Rhodes/synths and vibraphonist Arttu Takalo enhance the harmony of the music.
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