Young jazz pianist Mikk Kaasik released his debut album “Take One” in August 2024, borrowing a title from recording studio tradition where an initial studio take captures the purest artistic spark. Blending elements of jazz, fusion, and funk into a dynamic sound world, Kaasik earned the Young Jazz Talent Award from the Estonian Jazz Union in 2025. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Cory Wong, Rai Thistlethwayte, and Wynton Kelly, his program combines original compositions with inventive arrangements of well-known standards, paired with personal stories from his musical development.