Although her roots are in Finland, double bass player Kaisa Mäensivu attained musical maturity in New York, where she studied at the Manhattan School of Music, learning the tricks of the trade from her idol Ron Carter, among others. Initially, she appeared in jazz clubs mainly as an accompanying artist, but since 2015 she has been the composer and bandleader of her own quintet: Kaisa's Machine. With this ensemble, Mäensivu takes the listener on a journey through her musical world, which is shaped by her European origins and the groovy vibe of the Big Apple. Last year, the quintet's second album Taking Shape was released. It’s a fitting title, because, with her creative switching between playfulness and mature musicality, and her unique style, everything seems to be falling into place for the Finnish musician, with her star continuing to shine ever brighter.
