Roni Kaspi Trio

Don’t be surprised if Roni Kaspi happens to sound like a Finnish name, because it should. He was a Helsinki-based restaurant owner, boxing manager and jazz drummer who led his own dance band and made some recordings as late as in the late 1990s. 

The other Roni Kaspi (b. 2000), who is set to make her debut in Finland this November, is also a jazz drummer but from another country, another generation and of a different gender. Born in Israel, the 24-year-old woman has fewer recordings than her Finnish namesake.

On Kaspi’s only own release so far, Poni (2024), she leans heavily on pop, combines different contemporary styles and wears many creative hats – from singing and music-making to composing, writing lyrics and producing. Four of the six tracks feature French bassist Noe Berne and keyboardist Oxy, who are also part of her touring band.

But perhaps Roni Kaspi, who has studied at the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, wouldn’t be this far along without jazz and jazz bassist Avishai Cohen. Four years ago, Cohen saw one of Kaspi’s videos on Instagram and asked her to join his new trio. The lineup’s first album Shifting Sands (2022) is heralded as Cohen’s best in nearly two decades – not least thanks to the energizing drumming of Kaspi.

Cohen’s trio will release its next album Brightlight later this year, and the young drummer will have her name on one of Cohen’s compositions, Roni’s Swing, which was already released in July as the second single.

+ DJ Sun Dog

The concert will take place at the end of Saturday night, the night before Sunday. There is also a joint ticket for the night concerts of Klubi for 40/30 €. With a joint ticket you can see both Roni Kaspi Trio and Nubiyan Twist.