Mikael Långbacka

b. 1959

Mikael Långbacka joined the UMO team in 1984 and has kept his place in the orchestra ever since. He was away for four years when playing in the Swedish Norrbotten Big Band and had already gained big band experience, as a student, with big bands in Tapiola and Pori. Långbacka has also played in various classical music orchestras, including Finnish National Opera.

The confident musician is renowned for playing not only in large orchestras but also in small bands such as his own trio and the 1990’s trombone quintet, In The Spirit Of Jay&Kai. Långbacka was also involved with Zone, a band that aims to showcase and advance the work of Finnish composers from different music genres. He has been active in Nordic projects, including the line-up of A Tribute Lars Gullin and The Nordic Trombone Quartet.

Långbacka has also contributed to numerous other artists’ studio sessions. He has backed, for example, Anssi Tikanmäki and Kerkko Koskinen, and has played in less well-known, yet no less interesting line-ups such as Big Bad Family.

Studies:
1979–1987 Sibelius Academy
1986 Diploma in trombone
1987–1988 Studies in Stockholm
1987–1989 Studies in New York

Career:
1984– Bass trombonist for the UMO Jazz Orchestra
1989–1994 Norrbotten Big Band
1996 National Opera Orchestra

Various projects and bands:
1997–1998 Zone Orchestra (Eero Koivistoinen)
1997–1998 Nordic project: Tribute to Lars Gullin
1999–2001 Nordic Trombone Quartet
1995–2000 Trombone Quintet In the Spirit of Jay and Kai
2000–2001 Nordic project: Nordiska Trombonkvartetten
2001–2009 Mikael Långbacka Trio. Concerts, radio and TV recordings.
2010– Trio Bröder och Sam, released the album 2016
2011– Ostrobothnian Jazz Sextet, released the album 2017
2016–2019 Finnish-Swedish big band Bothnia Rhythm Orchestra
2016– Turku Jazz Orchestra

Teaching e.g. Vantaa Music College, Pop & Jazz Conservatory, Metropolia Helsinki, Sibelius Academy, Espoo Music College & Ebeli, Parainen Music College Arkipelag, Nauvo Music School Art-Dur and Turku Region Music College.

Other activities:
Founding member and artistic director of Korpoo Sea Jazz 1989–2009
Founding member of Blås Åboland society
Leader of the Archipelago Big Band