Juha Kujanpää (b.1974) is a Finnish composer and musician who operates masterfully in the no-man’s land between folk music, jazz and rock.
Kujanpää’s most recent works include his Solo albums “To Where My Wings Will Take Me”, 2017, “Goldwing”, 2015 and Tales and Travels, 2013. “Tales and Travels ”Was selected as one of the best albums of 2013 by the leading Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat. The band, Juha Kujanpää Ensemble, was also Nominated as the Band of the Year of the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival 2014.
Kuunapää’s music has been released lately also on folk music influenced albums Karuna: ”Tuulispää” (2016), Motley Bird: ”Dream Bird” (2012), Osiris Trio: ”Synty” (2011) and Karuna: Hyvää matkaa (2010). His vocal music composed to Poems of Finnish Poets has been released on “The Colorful Bird” (2007) (Poetry by eg Helvi Hämäläinen, Hannele Huovi, Lauri Pohjanpää) and Centaur: “That Peace Will Remain” (2004) (Poetry by Pentti Saarikoski) .
Kujanpää’s works for Theater over the last few years include a new musical for Oulunkylä Joint School (2017), “Same Land, Another Tribe” (Drama Tailors & Ritvala Kööri, Valkeakoski 2016), “Songs from the Rock” for Theater Pensas and Suomen Settlementtiliitto (2015) , “Kiitolaukkaa kipitikolkkaa” (2014) and “Zukkapaitupumbula” (2012), dance performances for children, Loiske Ensemble, “An Operetta for Hope / Operetta of Hope” (Rovaniemi Theater 2011, Radio Theater / Yleisradio 2010, Helsinki Art Theater 2008).
Kujanpää is working as a musician in Bands Karuna, Teija Niku Quartet, Captain Cougar, Ikiranka, Ville Ojanen & Chameleon, children music band FlipFlop and improvisation Theater group Shameless. He has performed as a guest musician on albums by eg Dave Lindholm, Nikolai Blad, Riku Keskinen, Dile Kolanen and Joakim Berghäll.