Kalle Kalima (b. 1973 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish guitar virtuoso who is probably one of the most exciting representatives of the European jazz scene. He has brought the electric guitar in jazz into the 21st century and is also making inroads into rock music. The guitarist and composer, who lives in Berlin, studied at the Hanns Eisler Musikhochschule in Berlin and at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Kalima is known above all for his versatility. In his oldest trio, Klima Kalima, he plays together with Oliver Potratz (bass) and Oliver Steidle (drums). The band won the New German Jazz Award 2008, among others. Together with Chris Dahlgren (bass, USA) and Eric Schäfer (drums) he founded the trio Johnny La Marama.
Kalle Kalima has composed for jazz groups as Klima Kalima, Johnny La Marama, Kalle Kalima & K-18, Kuu! and Tenors of Kalma. These compositions can be heard on various albums released by these groups. Kalima has composed orchestral music for Opera Lyon, Ensemble Resonanz (Chamber Ensemble of Elbfilharmony in Hamburg), String Trio of Munich Symphony, NDR Big Band, Umo Big Band and Jousia Ensemble among others.
His music theater piece for Opera Ensemble »Dido & Aeneas, remembered« was commissioned by Opera Lyon and played in Lyon eight times in March 2019. The piece was played at Ruhrtriennale in August 2019 and Opera Antwerpen in 2021. His composition »Louhi« for (for string orchestra and electric guitar) Ensemble Resonanz was commissioned by »Ansbacher Bach Woche« in 2017 and was played also at other festivals in Europe in 2017 and 2018 and by Philharmony of Konstanz.
»Kata Heian Nidan« for string orchestra was commissioned by Jousia Ensemble in Helsinki and also played by Pekka Kuusisto and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in USA in 2014. His piece »Shinaz Malbuch« for String Trio of Munich Symphony and electric guitar was commissioned by Echolot Festival in 2017. The piece »Free Dive« for String Trio, electronics and two improvising solists was first played in Munich 2017. He has arranged music of Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi among others for »Kronthaler: Living loving maid« (Sony Classical, 2015).