b. 11 June 1964, Finland. A brilliantly gifted clarinettist and saxophonist, Sarpilå has established a strong reputation throughout Europe. He made a great impact with his appearance at the 1988 Duke Ellington Convention, held that year in England, where he appeared as a soloist and section member in the orchestra directed by Bob Wilber. Sarpilå plays in the clarinet tradition of which Benny Goodman was the founding father and he blends technical mastery with a strong feeling for the music of the swing era. His solo style is fluid, demanding and always filled with interesting, flawlessly executed ideas.