Sami "Samigo" Kontola – happy drummer

Sami “Samigo” Kontola a.k.a. Happy Drummer a.k.a. Summerman

WARMLY WELCOME ALL! This world is ours so let us enjoy it.
Photo by Teemu Mattson Photography

Samigo & Amigos: CELEBRATION

CROWDFUNDING: Digital downloads, CDs, Concert tickets and more

RECORD RELEASE CONCERT @ Villa Rana, Jyväskylä, 4.11.2023

Buy/Stream: SUMMERMAN

Buy/Stream: GREEN SAMBA

PRE-ORDER the CD “Celebration” by Samigo & Amigos

MZSU – “Nascentes”

Mariana Zwarg Sexteto Universal: https://marianazwarg.bandcamp.com/album/nascentes

Photo by Claudia Brandão

ORDER the CD “Nascentes” by Mariana Zwarg Sexteto Universal

Samigo’s Rhythm Workshops

Photo by Karol Schittini

Logo by Tuomas Saikkonen

Rhythm Workshops from beginners to professionals and all age groups. This video clip is an example of the work done at Haapavesi Folk Festival in Finland, 2021.

Cultural Consultation

Partnership with the Finnish Olympic Committee and Olympic Team 2013-2016

Partnership with Sambic Dance School 2019 →

Photo by Leticia Barzilai

Photo by Taru Juurikko Photography

Bio

I am Sami “Samigo” Kontola, a musician/producer/writer from the land of ice and reindeers (that means Finland). I guess I got injected doses of Brazilian rhythms while asleep as a baby. I started my drumming as a timpanist in a symphonic orchestra at the age of 10, played my first bossa nova jamming Garota de Ipanema at 14 and started working professionally playing samba in restaurants (and Finnish dance music in dance halls) when 19. Now happily living in the wonderful land of Groove. Would like to thank (besides mum & dad of course) Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Hermeto Pascoal, Airto, Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers AND Rick Rubin, to name a few.

I spend a good deal of my life in Rio de Janeiro inspired and guided by ancestral wisdom of capoeira and samba, especially by G.R.E.S. Mangueira. I have also fallen in love with so called “universal music”, that has been introduced by musical champion Hermeto Pascoal and further propagated by his bass player maestro Itiberê Zwarg.

When I am not drumming I am enjoying life in its many forms. Dancing, singing, writing or hanging out with friends. Once in a while I do massage therapy or write on article about the ever-changing planet Earth and the winds of globalisation. And yes, whenever possible I enjoy good food. And dark chocolate with strong coffee. And salmiakki.