Heikki Ruokangas is a Finnish Oulu-based guitarist, composer, and improviser whose music is a dialogue between melody and noise, shifting from soothing, sensitive moments to violent, avant-garde cacophony, distinct melodies and fearless atonal motifs, dissolving conventional notions of time, rhythm, and harmony. He fuses contemporary jazz with subtle influences from Finnish folk music.

I Do Believe There Is A Ghost In My Pipe features Ruokangas in a trio with fellow Finnish double bass player Eero Tikkanen, known for his work in contemporary jazz, free improvisation, and Nordic folk-inspired music, and drummer Teemu Mustonen, who is active in a wide range of contemporary jazz projects. Mustonen is known for his dynamic touch, rich sonic palette, and ability to move seamlessly between subtle textures and energetic improvisation. The album was recorded at Studio Huooatossu in Helsinki in July and August 2025.

The album features seven folky, story-like instrumental pieces, all composed by Ruokangas, except the beautiful, touching ballad, «Omppuvarkaissa», which was composed with Finnish accordionist Anne-Mari Kanniainen, with whom Ruokangas previously recorded. These pieces were inspired by the world of ghosts. The unconventional dynamics of Ruokangas’ new trio—contrasting Ruokangas’ relaxed, introspective, and organically flowing, melodic playing with the restless, often chaotic and disruptive interplay of Tikkanen and Mustonen—intensify the suggestive, cinematic presence of otherworldly spirits. The cover artwork by American painter Jim Kopp further shapes the album’s atmosphere.

Eyal Hareuveni

Heikki Ruokangas (guitar), Eero Tikkanen (double bass), Teemu Mustonen (drums)