Tomi Salesvuo

Tomi Salesvuo hails from Lappeenranta, in Finnish South Karelia. He grew up in a family where music was a near constant presence through his musician father. For Tomi, his interest in playing the drums was born out of hearing live music at concerts, and playing in music class at school. Jazz and other rhythm music grabbed his interest, and the teenaged Salesvuo started playing in his hometown big band. In high school, goal-oriented drum studies became his focus in Helsinki. Later, Tomi was admitted to the Sibelius Academy jazz department, as the first youth program student in 1990. There, he completed his studies, graduating with an M. Mus. degree. His professional studies at the Sibelius Academy, as well as meeting and playing with musicians in the capital region quickly led to gigs and group projects, in a variety of settings, including the longest-lasting groups: XL, How Many Sisters, Anna-Mari Kähärä’s group and the soul jazz trio, Bitter Sweet. Drummer, bandleader, producer and educator, Salesvuo has performed with the masters like Wayne Krantz, Jim Beard, Benny Golson, Peter Weniger, Nils Landgren, Jeanette Lindström and Inaki Sandoval. His energetic drumming has been heard live and/or captured in the studio with the top Finnish artists like Pekka Pohjola, Severi Pyysalo, Jukka Perko, Jukka Eskola, Marzi Nyman, Pekka Kuusisto and Michael Monroe. He is the leader for the Tomi Salesvuo East Funk Attack powerfull rock-funk line up wich has toured both in Finland and abroad and released the bands fourth studio album “Rhythm Manifesto IV” (Eclipse Music) in 2025. Brand new Jazz trio Salesvuo Syncopation bursts the joy of playing together and leans on a deep swing! Tomi Salesvuo´s compositions and the band’s original arrangements for the classic Finnish hit songs makes the repertoire shine. Long time friends Pope Puolitaival – Saxophone, Mikko Helevä – Hammond Organ and Tomi Salesvuo – Drums released debyt album, “Complete Loft Sessions”(Eclipse Music) in 2023 wich underlines the interpretation that captures the listener with Salesvuo´s playful melodies and the trio´s energetic performance! In addition to performing in clubs and festivals more than 20 countries, Salesvuo has also held drum set master classes and work shops in most Europian countries. Tomi Salesvuo teaches at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences as an associate professor.

www.tomisalesvuo.com