One of the most used drummers in the finnish jazz-scene, has played with almost every major jazz-artist in Finland. Also an experienced teacher in Sibelius-Academy, Helsinki, and at seminars and camps.

Lehtonen released his first CD (”FIRSTBORN”) as a leader in march 2009, and has done several recordings as a sideman. He has played and toured with such names as: Randy Brecker, Tim Hagans, Wayne Krantz, Jukkis Uotila, Palle Danielsson, Rick Margitza, Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Norrbotten Big Band, UMO, Marc Bernstein, Scott Kinsey, etc...

Lehtonen’s first notable band, in 2001, was a jam band from a moldy cellar that developed to be the U-Street All Stars. That band was an energetic jazzgroup, and it got the chance to play a lot in Finland and abroad, being a very important experience concerning the practical side of touring, especially for a young and aspiring drummer... The band released two albums for Finland’s Blue Note.

At the same time Lehtonen started to play Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters music in the brilliant drummer/pianist Jukkis Uotila’s ensemble with Jukkis on keys,Timo Hirvonen on bass and Teemu Viinikainen on guitar. The groove was right there, and this group played with different sax players, for example Marc Bernstein and Jukka Perko. The same rhythm section was present when the great trumpet player Randy Brecker came to Finland in March 2002. They played two nights at the sold-out Jumo Jazz Club.

In 2003 Lehtonen had an idea about playing some music that his long-time bass idol Jaco Pastorius had written/performed. As it happened, the merciless bass- extraordinare Timo Hirvonen was sitting right next to him, and a new group had been born: In the Spirit of Jaco Pastorius. That group was four horns with an expanded rhythm section, and in the repertoire were all the classic Jaco-tunes, and also a few other suprising treats, such as finnish lyrics for Teen Town… The band played a lot of gigs in Finland, including a tour for the Finnish Jazz Federation. In 2005 Jukkis Uotila, who plays keyboards in the band, managed to bring the idea of playing this music over to Sweden, with the fabulous Stockholm Jazz Orchestra. Uotila is the regular drummer of this band, this time conducting and playing keyboards. The three fellows, Uotila, Hirvonen and Lehtonen played two succesful tours in Sweden with SJO.

In 2005 Viinikainen, Hirvonen and Lehtonen had formed a trio, and had an opportunity to play in New York City with the trumpetwisard Tim Hagans. This led to other gigs in Finland, and a recording session under Viinikainen’s name, “Tales of Robert Dickson”. The same year Lehtonen gratuated from Sibelius-Academy’s jazz department.

Lehtonen continued his collaborations with the swedes, and started a series of concerts entitled “Finnkampen”. This friendly international tournament has had gigs in Finland and Sweden, and also two recordings with YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, and a live recording with the Swedish Radio. The musicians involved (so far) include: Johan Hörlen, Karl-Martin Almqvist, Robert Nordmark, Palle Danielsson, Severi Pyysalo, Teemu Viinikainen, Timo Hirvonen and Ville Huolman. More to come!

In March of 2007 the “Fabulous Finnish Funky Five”, i.e. Uotila, Viinikainen, Hirvonen, Lehtonen and saxophonist Joonatan “Ironman” Rautio, were invited to play with the great Norrbotten Big Band with Randy Brecker as a featured soloist and Tim Hagans as a conductor/soloist. The music was written by Brecker and Hagans, with a few Pastorius originals thrown in. The band toured around Sweden for two weeks.

In the past few years Lehtonen has been active as a sideman, in addition to leading his own groups and teaching. Among the most active bands has been Timo Lassy Band, which has played a lot in Finland and also a tour in the U.S., and some gigs in Europe. Jukkis Uotila Band has also been active, playing in Finland and also in Japan. Other projects with Uotila include Jaco’s music with UMO (the no.1 big band in Finland) and the McCoy Tyner project. One of the most active bands recently has been The Mokners, which is a trio with Hirvonen and the unstoppable vibraphonist Severi Pyysalo. This band will be releasing a live cd in the near future, recorded during a Jazz Federation tour of Finland in April 2009.

Other bands associated with Lehtonen:
Jenny Robson Band, Gustav Lundgren Quartet, Mikko Karjalainen Fellowship Quintet, Risto Toppola Trio, Jussi Fredriksson Busy Turtles, Sami Linna Quintet, Kannaste-Ojajärvi Quartet, George Kontrafouris, Eero Koivistoinen, Olli Ahvenlahti, Timo Hirvonen High Five!, Jimi Tenor, …