Jazz musician Pentti Mutikainen dies aged 88

Veteran jazz musician Pentti “Muti” Mutikainen has died aged 88, Yle reports. His death was confirmed to Yle by people close to him.

Mutikainen recorded more than 4,000 tracks during his career. He began working as a professional musician in 1958 in singer Matti Heinivaho’s band, and early in his career accompanied stars including Olavi Virta, Eino Grön and Kullervo Linna.

He played double bass in several jazz groups, including DDT Jazz Band and Antti Sarpila Swing Band. Mutikainen joined DDT Jazz Band in 1965 and remained with the group until recent years. The band plays traditional jazz from the 1920s to the 1940s.

Mutikainen received the Finnish Jazz Federation’s Yrjö Award in November 1999 and the Louis Armstrong Award from Classic Jazz ry in 2006. In 2010, the federation named him a Finnish jazz legend in recognition of his long and significant career.

He also appeared in several films, often playing a musician. His roles included a small part in Aki Kaurismäki’s film Kauas pilvet karkaavat. Helsingin Sanomat was the first to report his death.