Biography - Kathi Huhtaluhta

Tucsonan singer, songwriter, Kathi Huhtaluhta is a performer of world scope. Her newest album "Transcendente" with Andres Lemons is a collection of Folk music from Spain, Argentina, Galacia and Chile. There is the theme of passion, gypsies, and Flamenco. Huhtaluhta believes The cante or Flamenco vocal chanting in "Transcendente" is very much like the Saami Yoik of Finland, her native country and roots. She claims the Flamenco chant or cante and the Finnish Yoik are both an expression of the "soul". Huhtaluhta is a performer with Folk Festivals around the world.

She was selected as a highlighted main stage performer with the 2006 FinnFest (International Finnish Festival) in Astoria, Oregon and Naselle, Washington. She is a regular performer in local events such as The Tucson Meet Yourself, Scandinavian Festival, Slavic Festival and Tucson's very own Folk Festival held every year in the first week of May. She performs and sings Tango pieces for local Milongas and is soon to be presenting "Finnish" Tango as well. She has been influenced by and fuses the ethereal and world style vocals of Loreena McKennett, the earthy Indigenous/folk styles of Mari Boine of Norway and Joan Baez, and the ancient lyrics and music of Finland and Vartinna. Her band the "Four Winds" consists of world class musicians, like Marvin Todacheenie, a Native American flutist from Navajo country, Marco Razona on accordion, Andres Lemons and Christian Andres Vincent on classical guitar, and Dale Clark on electric violin. Huhtaluhta draws incredible talent to the stage and to be part of her performances and into the studio for recordings.

She currently has four albums to her credit and is working on a SOON TO BE RELEASED album, Elä Tanssia, Laula (To live, to dance, to sing). This incredible and Upbeat music will take you away with elements of fantasy and myth.

Huhtaluhta draws her inspiration from traditional legends and myths. On the newest album is a song that has Todacheenie's Native flute with a twelve string guitar that is like fairies and tontutts (finnish elves) dancing in the forest. She draws the name of the "Four Winds" from her own Saami culture and a myth about a Shaman who captures the four winds of Lapland in his four corner hat. Elements of nature and animals are often part of the subject matter in her music as well as romance and passion.

Her album "The White Reindeer" is based upon another legend of Lapland and the doomed love between a reindeer and a mortal".The passion of her original songs in Spanish and Flamenco go without question in their ability to "move the heart." "La Luna" from the album "Transcendente" is an incredibly moving song and "Take Me To Madrid" has the ethereal chants that only Huhtaluhta produces as a signature of her unique style. These Chants are powerful enough to raise the hair up along the back of your neck as you are listening.

Extensive travel as a child gave Huhtaluhta a deep awareness of the world and other cultures at a young age. She was partially raised in Madrid, Spain and learned to dance Flamenco and perform as a child. She currently makes her home in Tucson, Arizona and enjoys the rich and diverse elements of the Sonoran desert. Enjoy her newest release and experience a touch of the southwest.

Additonal biography sheets you can print:

Kathi Huhtaluhta and Four Winds are a dynamic group of world class musicians that play traditional and contemporary styles of music. On the album Elä Tanssia, Laula (to live, to dance, to sing). Finnish music and language as well as Indigenous styles of music combined with elements of the southwest, Native American flute and chants. The etheral vocals of Huhtaluhta bring music and sounds of many places world-wide. Her most recent album "Transcendente" is a collection of songs in Spanish with flamenco guitar and gypsy cantes.

The Musicians:

Marvin Todacheenie grew up on the Navajo reservation as a child, living in the traditional Navajo culture. A 4th generation flute carver, singer, drummer, dancer and artisan in leather, woodwork and jewelry, passed down from generation to generation. Now he is preserving and sharing his heritage with you, using the vibrant, haunting and soul touching songs on his hand carved Native American flutes.

Christian Andres Vincent is a graduate teaching assistant studying ethnomusicology at the University of Arizona. He is a classical guitarist and is versatile: performing "Tango" as well as Flamenco guitar pieces.

Dale Clark lives in Tucson, Arizona and a is an in demand violinist. When he is not performing music he a professional massage therapist.