Chicago Overcoat albums Chicago Overcoat (1978) and Eyesight to the Blind (1979) were also quite popular in Scandinavia among Chicago Blues enthuastics.

Heinonen's reputation in Scandinavia and Europe is based on his lead guitar work in J.Leino & Blues Guys. "Blues Skies" (1991),"Don't Hesitate" (1997) and "From Now On..." (2001) were strong blues records and based on these albums J.Leino & Blues Guys got some cult following especially in Norway and Sweden. There is also one tune - Fenton Robinson's "I Hear some Blues Downstairs" - on SBA's cd "All that blues from Sweden". Not bad for a Finnish band!

Jaakko Heinonen has got a specially hand-picked band which consists of his old friend guitarist Jonne Kulluvaara from the Blues Guys and a tough & experienced rhythm section from Helsinki. Bass player Käpy Parviainen and drummer Tapo Leppänen have played together for decades. The band performs both Jaska Heinonen's original material as well as some songs by bluesmen like Albert and B.B. King. But irrespective of which songs Jaakko Heinonen performs, his sophisticated West Side guitar will make the songs his own. It's the Sound of the West Side Chicago - Finnish Style.

Jaakko Heinonen Band released their first cd "Can't Complain" in June 2009 by Hila Records (HILACD 002)