Record Reviews

JUSSI LEHTONEN ~ MOVE ON SVART 125 (Barcode: 6430065582786) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by Finnish drummer / composer Jussi LehtonenFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quintet setting with saxophonist Joonatan RautioFind albums by this artist, guitarist Teemu ViinikainenFind albums by this artist, pianist Aki RissanenFind albums by this artist and bassist Jori HuhtalaFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions, all by Lehtonen. The music is all straightforward modern mainstream Jazz, completely within the Jazz convention. The compositions are all well weaved and offer nice melody lines, but tender little intellectual challenge as such and create a déjà vu impression. All the players are excellent performers, who can carry a tune and improvise elegantly, without a hitch. But altogether there is nothing here that any Jazz listener anywhere in the world has not heard before and the entire album lacks the ability to cross beyond the ordinary. Personally for me only the guitar work by Viinikainen offers somewhat more glimmer than the rest of the stuff presented here. Having said all that, this is a perfectly composed and performed Jazz album, which should make many Jazz enthusiasts completely happy. It is simply a bit too much American and too little Finnish for my liking.

Updated: 14/08/2020Posted: 14/08/2020

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VERNERI POHJOLA ~ PEKKA EDITION 1092 (Barcode: 5060509790074) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017 This is the sixth album by Finnish Jazz trumpeter / composer Verneri PohjolaFind albums by this artist recorded in a quintet setting with keyboardist Tuomo PrattalaFind albums by this artist, guitarist Teemu ViinikainenFind albums by this artist, bassist Antti LotjonenFind albums by this artist and drummer Mika KallioFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven compositions by legendary Finnish bassist / composer Pekka PohjolaFind albums by this artist, who was Verneri´s father. In the liner notes of the album Verneri explains the background of his decision to record his father´s music, despite the complex personal relationship with him as a result of his parents divorce when Verneri was just two years old, which resulted in him being raised by his mother with almost no contact with his father. Additional complexity arose from the "son of…" syndrome, from which many children of famous people suffer from, being constantly measured up to their parents, mostly completely out of context. As Verneri states, he decided to make this album only when he felt he could "make the music sound his own"; not surprisingly Verneri dedicates this album to his mother Inkeri. I feel particularly lucky to know personally both Pekka and his son Verneri. I met Pekka in London, when Finnish Progressive Rock fist managed to conquer the international scene and when his albums were released on VirginFind albums on this label Records. Later on I met him several times in Finland during my visits there. We kept in touch for years and he sent me his albums regularly. His death in 2008 at a ridiculous young age was a blow for me since I always loved both him and his music dearly. I met Verneri in Poland when he joined the Polish Jazz trio RGGFind albums by this artist and I was present at the concert hall where their live album "City Of Gardens" was recorded. The following year I invited RGG and Verneri to perform at my Singer Jazz Festival in Warsaw. Of course we are now in touch – life and music continue… The music Verneri chose to perform on this album was originally released on the following four brilliant albums by Pekka (his 1st, 2nd, 5th and 10th releases): "Pihkasilma Kaarnakorva (Resineye Barkear)Find albums with this title", "B The MagpieFind albums with this title", "Katkavaaran LohikaarmeFind albums with this title" and "Changing WatersFind albums with this title" released between 1972 and 1992 and presenting a wide spectrum of Pekka´s diverse compositions. Listeners familiar with the original recordings will be surprised by Verneri´s adaptations, which bring the music up to date and transform them stylistically into modern Jazz, but carefully preserve the original melody lines and the intrinsic melancholy that always characterized Pekka´s music. Verneri´s trumpet symbolically represents the second generation, whereas the guitar reflects the Rocky roots of the first generation. Whichever way one wants to look at it, the music is absolutely brilliant from start to finish and completely relevant on its own even to listeners oblivious of its origins. I am happy to see that Verneri managed to overcome his fears and psychological barriers, to create an exceptional example of cross-generation continuance. Overall this is a brilliant piece of music, bridging musical styles and concepts, which takes no prisoners and is completely overwhelming in every way. Verneri plays some sublime trumpet lines on this album and the rest of the quintet all contribute amicably and ably to create a timeless musical experience. As such I can only recommend this album to all true music lovers, young and old, everywhere in the world where great music is appreciated.

Updated: 13/02/2021Posted: 15/01/2021

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