Kaisa Mäensivu is a Finnish jazz bassist who has kicked off an international career in music with a great success by performing, composing and also currently holding the chair of artistic director for the international Savoy Jazz Festival in Helsinki.

She developed her musicianship in Helsinki where she studied at the jazz department of Sibelius-Academy before moving to New York City to pursue her career in music. In 2017 she graduated from Manhattan School of Music after studying with professors such as Ron Carter and Dave Liebman.

Kaisa has recorded two albums as a leader with her bands Kaisa's Machine and Kaisa Mäensivu Trio. Both groups have performed all over the world, including Ronnie Scott’s in London, Rochester Jazz Festival in New York, and Pori Jazz Festival in Finland. Kaisa and her music have received high praise in the jazz world and she has been awarded with a wide range of music prizes, including the first prize at the International Riga Jazz Stage bass contest in 2018 the ’Rising Star’ award at the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland. In 2017 she was amongst the winners in the Esko Linnavalli big band composing contest.

Kaisa splits her time between Helsinki and New York when she’s not on tour somewhere else in the world. 

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"Mäensivun soitto on äärimmäisen tarkkaa mutta letkeää. Harvan käsissä kontrabasso soi yhtä vangitsevasti ja karismaattisesti. Hyvin svengaavaa." - Arttu Seppänen, HS

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"Band is led by a strong, highly musical bass presence of Kaisa Mäensivu." – London Jazz News