KAISA MÄENSIVU

“The rhythm and the groove; that's always felt natural to me.”

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Originally from Finland, Kaisa Mäensivu is a jazz bassist, composer and bandleader living in New York City. Her imaginative playing, that has been described as “uniquely creative” by Hrayr Attarian in All About Jazz,  is in demand in Finland and internationally. She is the founder of the group Kaisa's Machine, “A band of young aces” as described by Giovanni Russonello of The New York Times and she has lead her band at festivals and clubs around the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, The Jazz Gallery, Ronnie Scott’s, Bimhuis, and Ljubljana Jazz Festival to name a few. Mäensivu is a regular guest with other groups as well and she has collaborated with artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Dave Kikoski, Seamus Blake and Tim Hagans. 

The contemporary scene in New York has shaped her style and strengthened her technique. Growing up in Finland, there was always a piano in Mäensivu’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 Sibelius Academy in Helsinki along with graduating with a Master’s degree from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in 2017 heralded a career as a musician. She is a prolific bandleader and composer, having released four albums under her own name on top of the numerous jazz recordings she plays on as a side musician, two of which have been nominated for the Finnish Jazz Prize, Emma- award. 

Mäensivu 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. 

“Strong, highly musical bass presence” — London Jazz News