Record Reviews

JUPU GROUP / JUKKA LINKOLA OCTET ~ JAZZ LIISA VOL. 05 & VOL. 06 SVART 027 (Barcode: 6430050667207) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1977 Released: 2016 Jupu GroupFind albums by this artist was a short-lived Finnish experimental Fusion band led by violinist Juhani PoutanenFind albums by this artist and included also guitarist Janne LouhivuoriFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist, bassist Ilkka HanskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Upi SorvaliFind albums by this artist. On this live radio broadcast they also included saxophonist / flautist Sakari KukkoFind albums by this artist. The band recorded their sole album "AhmooFind albums with this title" almost a year after this session. They perform five original compositions, two of which would appear later on their album in a studio version. Four of the compositions were composed by Poutanen and one by Kukko. Although Fusion oriented and played on electric instruments, the music includes many freely improvised passages and sounds mostly quite Avant-Garde. Keyboardist / composer / bandleader Jukka Linkola is one of the central figures on the Finnish music scene to this day, with extensive involvement both in Jazz and Classical Music. He has a substantial recorded legacy, always of the highest quality. The Jukka Linkola OctetFind albums by this artist, which he led between mid 1970s and early 1990s, was just one of many ensembles under his leadership and throughout his career he always had empathy towards large ensembles, orchestras and Big Bands. The octet recorded three excellent albums: "ProtofunkFind albums with this title", "Lady In GreenFind albums with this title" and "Scat SuiteFind albums with this title", all worth investigating. On this live broadcast session the octet includes also trumpeter Esko HeikkinenFind albums by this artist, trombonist Tom BildoFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Pentti LahtiFind albums by this artist and Teemu SalminenFind albums by this artist, bassists Ilkka Hanski, drummer Jukkis UotilaFind albums by this artist and percussionist Upi Sorvali. They perform four original compositions by Linkola and his arrangement of a traditional tune. The music floats between mainstream Jazz, Fusion and Funk and is highly melodic, offering an almost orchestral ambience and of course a lot of unadulterated fun! Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early to mid 1970s that one is able to hear and for European Jazz and Fusion connoisseurs this is an absolute must have! Side Note The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled. The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD. The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes. This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.

Updated: 27/08/2020Posted: 04/06/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

JUKKA TOLONEN BAND / HURMERINTA – SORVALI BIG BAND ~ POP LIISA VOL. 09 & VOL. 10 SVART 015 ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 - 1977 Released: 2016 Following the breakdown of the pioneering Finnish group Tasavallan PresidenttiFind albums by this artist in 1974, guitarist / composer Jukka TolonenFind albums by this artist continued his successful solo career, releasing albums on a regular basis. By the time his band was captured playing on this live broadcast, his fourth solo album "HystericaFind albums with this title" was about to be released soon after. The band, which also included saxophonist Pekka PoyryFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Esa KotilainenFind albums by this artist, bassist Heikki VirtanenFind albums by this artist and drummer Esko RosnellFind albums by this artist, perform four instrumental pieces, all originating from the "Hysterica" album and all composed by Tolonen. These live versions of the pieces are quite different from the studio versions and therefore their inclusion here is a perfect companion to the original album. The music is almost completely Fusion oriented, with superb soloing by all the band members. Kotilainen´s keyboard performances are probably the only strong link present here to Progressive Rock, but the Fusion elements include also some Funk influences. Considering the fact that the bad collectively comprised of the "hottest" players on the Finnish scene, the fact that all the performances here are simply stellar. Guitarist Sami HurmerintaFind albums by this artist, his wife vocalist Maarit HurmerintaFind albums by this artist and drummer Upi SorvaliFind albums by this artist put together the Hurmerinta – Sorvali Big BandFind albums by this artist in 1977, combining forces with many musicians they performed and recorded with earlier on, such as British vocalist Frank RobsonFind albums by this artist (ex-Tasavallan Presidentti), trumpeter Esko HeikkinenFind albums by this artist, Romanian trombonist Mircea StanFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Pertti PaivinenFind albums by this artist and Pentti LahtiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Kari KuusamoFind albums by this artist, bassist Harri MerilahtiFind albums by this artist, and second drummer Roope KoistinenFind albums by this artist. This eleven-piece Big Band was not a typical Jazz Big Band, but rather a Brass Rock ensemble with a double vocal front. The Big Band existed for about a year between 1977 and 1978 and never recorded a studio album, so this live broadcast is their only recorded legacy. The Big Band performs six songs, three of which were written by Jimi HendrixFind albums by this artist, two by Robson and one by Sami Hurmerinta. Hendrix was an obvious influence on these musicians and the legendary album by Gil EvansFind albums by this artist and his Orchestra "Plays The Music Of Jimi HendrixFind albums with this title" prompted them to form the Big Band in the first place. The music is of course typical of Brass Rock bands of the time, which combined Rock and Jazzy horns sound. Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early to mid 1970s that one is able to hear and for Fusion and Jazz oriented Prog-heads this is an absolute must have! Side Note The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled. The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD. The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes. This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.

Updated: 09/05/2020Posted: 08/05/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend