Kaisa’s Machine

The contemporary scene in New York has shaped her style and strengthened her technique. Composing for Kaisa’s Machine is her chance to channel those influences and explore the groove aesthetic she is so drawn to. At the same time Kaisa holds dear her connection to Europe and she stays close to her musician friends and colleagues there. Growing up in Finland, there was always a piano in Kaisa’s home and she recalls it was her first instrument, “I would always climb up to the piano and play to entertain myself.” She started lessons early, aged six, but it was seeing a woman play double bass on television that set things in motion, “It looked so impressive,” and it chimed deeply with the connection she has to rhythm.

Studying jazz at the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki heralded a career as a musician, along with graduating from the Manhattan School of Music in 2017, a place she had dreamed of studying at. It was there she had the chance to learn from professors such as Dave Liebman and a personal hero, Ron Carter. “Hearing Ron Carter on the Miles Davis Quintet live recordings was a key influence. What really blew me away were his note choices, just how creatively he builds the bass lines and takes risks that lead the music to new places.” Kaisa has had to take risks herself; dropping the piano for upright bass, leaving her homeland of Finland for America, and jumping in on jam sessions – always a test of nerve. “When I just moved to New York I went to this club uptown called Smoke Jazz Club. The feeling of walking into a random club on a weeknight and hearing musicians I didn’t know of, and them sounding that amazing – I was blown away.” That same night the club opened up for a jam and Kaisa jumped in, “I was so nervous, but I think it went pretty well because I got my first gig in New York from that session.” Some might have felt overawed but Kaisa lifted herself to meet the challenge, “Yeah, that’s what New York does,” she observes.

It is that mentality that’s helped her musicianship to blossom and Kaisa has won several awards including first prize at the International Riga Jazz Stage contest for bass players in 2018 and the ’Rising Star’ award at the Pori Jazz Festival. Kaisa now splits her time between New York and Helsinki when she’s not on tour somewhere else in the world.

“Strong, highly musical bass presence” London Jazz News

“A Band of young aces” NYTimes

”The group around her is responsive and tough minded, but they know who’s boss. This is a debut record of a sort, but only in the sense that all great creative records are debuts. There will be much more to come.” Downbeat

Kaisa’s Machine – Nordic noir meets New York sparkle

Kaisa Mäensivu formed her ensemble Kaisa’s Machine in 2015 and made her debut with the group in 2017 on the tight-knit, imaginative In the Key of K. Since then she moved to NYC and created an international career. And though she brought new players into her orbit, she kept the Kaisa’s Machine name, landing on Dave Douglas’ prestigious Greenleaf Music label for the follow-up release Taking Shape, her first album as a New Yorker. Mäensivu’s writing is richly emotive and demanding, though her playing is just as deep and frequently in the foreground: her fullness of tone and attack is immediately evident. All through her music there’s a sense of story, a sonic richness and surprise. “This album represents a new, progressive and hard-hitting direction in my music that is a reflection of New York,” says Mäensivu. “I was more of a straightahead bassist when I moved here, but the city has changed me as a player and composer. I feel like this music captures the magic of New York, where the atmosphere is open to new things.”

Kaisa’s Machine pictures Mäensivu’s vision of music in the form of her compositions. The music aims to be relatable in its pureness – sometimes it’s bouncy and groovy, celebrating with you, other times making you ponder all the mysteries and tragedies of life on our planet. Playing bass is Mäensivu’s way of dealing with it all.