Record Reviews

FINNFOREST ~ ALPHA TO OMEGA: THE COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS 1973-1980 SVART 056 (Barcode: 6430065585435) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Funk Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1980 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the collected studio recordings by the Finnish Progressive Rock / Fusion ensemble FinnforestFind albums by this artist. It includes the remastered versions of the three LPs recorded by Finnforest and released on the legendary LoveFind albums on this label Records label: "FinnforestFind albums with this title" (1975), "Lahto MatkalleFind albums with this title" (1976) and "DemonnightsFind albums with this title" (1979). Additionally two singles, one compilation track and two previously unissued recording sessions, one before the debut album (1973) and another after the last album (1980), are also included. Beautifully packaged and with in depth liner notes this 3 CD set is a proper tribute to this great band. Finnforest was formed in 1973 by twin brothers Pekka TegelmanFind albums by this artist, who played guitar and Jussi TegelmanFind albums by this artist, who played drums. The early version of the band included also keyboardist Jukka RissanenFind albums by this artist, bassist Jarmo HiekkalaFind albums by this artist and vocalist Ari MustonenFind albums by this artist. This quintet lineup plays on the six early tracks recorded in 1973. The first album was recorded in Sweden in 1975 just by the trio of Tegelman brothers and Jukka Rissanen. The second album was also recorded in Sweden a year later, and featured the Tegelman brothers, Hiekkala on bass and keyboardist Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist, Second keyboardist Pertti PokkiFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks and a string section conducted by Otto DonnerFind albums by this artist plays on one track. The third album was recorded in 1978 and features only Jussi Tegelman from the original lineup and the rest are all new members: keyboardist Jarmo SavolainenFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jari RissanenFind albums by this artist, bassist Tuomo HelinFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Juhani AaltonenFind albums by this artist. Pekka Tegelman plays only on some of the tracks. The last session features all new musicians playing with Jussi Tegelman. All the music present on this set, except for one track, was composed by one or the other of the Tegelman brothers. The early tracks are typical proto-Prog but starting with the tracks on the first album the music becomes absolutely stunning, with complex compositions and lengthy improvisations, slowly moving from Symphonic Prog into Jazz-Rock Fusion, with even more daring and challenging musical excursions. In retrospect it is clear that Finnforest were one of the most important European Prog groups in the 1970s, creating some of the most exciting music that came out of Finland at the time, despite the fact that they had fierce competition as Finland at the time produced incredible amount of fascinating music. It is great to see these classic albums back in circulation and the bonus tracks are always a welcome incentive. This is definitely a must have for all true Prog and Fusion collectors from around the world.

Updated: 02/07/2020Posted: 02/07/2020

CD 3 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FINNFOREST ~ FINNFOREST / LAHTO MATKALLE LOVE 136/193 (Barcode: 6417732011367) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1975 - 1976 Released: 1998 1st & 2nd albums on 1 CD by the great Finnish Jazz-Rock band FinnforestFind albums by this artist. First version of Finnforest was a trio and the second a quartet, with Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist, one of the most important Finnish jazz musicians. Both albums are brilliant and sound today as fresh as at the time they were recorded.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JUPU GROUP ~ AHMOO SVART 081 (Barcode: 6430065585442) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1975 Released: 2018 This is a reissue of the only album by the short-lived Finnish Fusion / Progressive Rock Jupu GroupFind albums by this artist, which included violinist Juhani PoutanenFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Janne LouhivuoriFind albums by this artist, bassist Ilkka HanskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Upi SorvaliFind albums by this artist. On three tracks a string trio is added to the lineup. The album presents six original tracks, three by Poutanen and one each by Sorvali, Hanski and Linkola. The music comprises of complex cross-genre explorations, amalgamating Rock, Jazz and Classical Music, with a strong Fusion feeling, with the violin at the centre, which of course was rather unusual. All the compositions are beautifully melodic, serving as ideal vehicles for the lengthy soloing by all group members. The three tracks with the string section have a more Classical Music atmosphere, but remain faithful to the Fusion spirit of the album. The album is a wonderful example of Finnish instrumental music created at the time (mid-1970s), which was bursting with ideas and wonderful creativity. These young musicians proved that brilliant music can be created anywhere in the world and the music remains completely relevant today, losing absolutely nothing of its significance, artistic quality and intrinsic elegance. It is great to have this gem available again, as it absolutely deserves to be heard today by the young generation of music lovers. Thanks to SvartFind albums on this label Records for keeping the memory alive. For European Fusion fans this album is an absolute music of course!

Updated: 15/07/2020Posted: 15/07/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

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

EERO KOIVISTOINEN / NORDJAZZ QUINTET ~ JAZZ LIISA VOL. 13 & VOL. 14 SVART 094 (Barcode: 6430065583011) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2017 Saxophonist / composer / bandleader Eero KoivistoinenFind albums by this artist is one of the Godfathers of modern Finnish Jazz with a career spanning six decades and a glorious legacy of recorded music spanning a wide range of stylistic explorations. The live radio broadcast captured here presents Koivistoinen and his quartet: pianist Heikki SarmantoFind albums by this artist (another iconic figure of the Finnish Jazz scene), his brother Pekka SarmantoFind albums by this artist on bass and drummer Reino LaineFind albums by this artist, hosting the superb Belgian guitarist Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, who visited Finland at the time. On one track the quintet is expanded to a sextet when joined by the Bulgarian trumpeter Reicho IvanovFind albums by this artist. They perform five original compositions, two composed by Catherine, and one each by Danish trumpeter Palle MikkelborgFind albums by this artist, Koivistoinen and Ivanov. The music is highly electric (Sarmanto plays electric piano, Catherine electric guitar and even Ivanov plays an electric trumpet – see the Fusion group Eleventh HouseFind albums by this artist led by Larry CoryellFind albums by this artist, which had a similar lineup), which results in a charged Fusion fury, comparable to the best work of Mahavishnu OrchestraFind albums by this artist, and offering some of the finest quality of the genre ever recorded. I am happy to say that Koivistoinen and Heikki Sarmanto have been my friends since decades and I had the immense pleasure to write liner notes for their albums. The Nordjazz QuintetFind albums by this artist was a collaborative ensemble combining Jazz musicians from the Nordic countries (as opposed to Scandinavian, which means only Denmark, Norway and Sweden and not Finland and Iceland). The lineup changed over time and the one captured on this live broadcast includes Finnish saxophonist / flautist Pekka PoyryFind albums by this artist, Danish pianist Ole Kock HansenFind albums by this artist, Norwegian guitarist Nils Petter NyrenFind albums by this artist, Swedish bassist Kjell JanssonFind albums by this artist and Icelandic drummer Petur OstlundFind albums by this artist. They perform three original compositions, one composed by Hansen and two composed by Finnish Jazz musicians, both keyboardists / composers, not members of the ensemble: Olli AhvenlahtiFind albums by this artist and Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist. The music serves as basis for extended improvisations within the Fusion oriented idiom, featuring extensive soloing. These two sessions are ideally matched together and this CD is definitely one of the strongest and most coherent within the Jazz Liisa series. 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 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: 13/06/2020Posted: 13/06/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

OTON KVARTETTI / WASAMA–TUOMINEN / HIETANEN & HAUTA-AHO / WASAMA QUART ~ JAZZ LIISA VOL. 07 & VOL. 08 SVART 030 (Barcode: 6430050667252) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz-Soul Fusion Recorded: 1973 - 1976 Released: 2016 The "Popstudio" / "Jazzstudio" broadcasts were usually dedicated to one band / artists, but in some cases two acts were combined into one show, which allowed each of them just about twenty minutes to perform, as is the case on these two sessions. Oton KvartettiFind albums by this artist, led by violinist Otto-Tapio NevanlinnaFind albums by this artist, included also pianist Jukka LinkolaFind albums by this artist, bassist Jorma KoivulehtoFind albums by this artist and drummer Heikki TimonenFind albums by this artist, was a short lived group of young classically trained musicians who moved into Jazz and offered a wonderfully lyrical, but completely open music. They perform only one original composition by Linkola, which lasts for over twenty minutes and offers extensive soloing, and which progressively intensifies as the music continues, climaxing with a passionate group improvisation. Wasama - Tuominen TrioFind albums by this artist consisted of saxophonist Tapio TuominenFind albums by this artist and brothers Olli-Pekka WasamaFind albums by this artist on bass and Jukka WasamaFind albums by this artist on drums. The trio played passionate Free Jazz, based on the powerful lead statements by Tuominen and intense rhythm section support by the Wasama brothers. They perform two original compositions, one credited to the trio members and the other to Jukka Wasama. Influenced by the European / British Free Jazz flourishing at the time, the trio was a superb example of the Finnish Free Jazz / Improvising Music scene, which had many excellent representatives at the time. By the time the duo of pianist Pentti HietanenFind albums by this artist and bassist Teppo Hauta-AhoFind albums by this artist took part in this live radio broadcast they were both already established musicians, who started their careers a decade earlier. The music is classic mainstream Jazz, and the duo performs three original compositions, all by Hietanen, which are all about the wonderful interplay between them and showcase the virtuosic bass playing by Hauta-Aho. The Wasama brothers added violinist / pianist Mikko-Ville Luolayan-MikkolaFind albums by this artist and guitarist Ilkka NiemelainenFind albums by this artist to form the Wasama QuartetFind albums by this artist, who played a mixture of modern Jazz and World Music elements, with a lot of space for improvisation. They perform three pieces, two original compositions by Niemelainen and their interpretation of the famous Jim PepperFind albums by this artist composition "Witchi Tai To" which was covered extensively. The quartet recorded two studio albums several years after their appearance on this live radio broadcast. 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 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: 15/06/2020Posted: 06/06/2020

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend