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 ~ BULLHORN EDITION 1056 (Barcode: 5065001530609) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the fifth album as a leader by Finnish Jazz trumpeter Verneri PohjolaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Aki RissanenFind albums by this artist, bassist Antti LotjonenFind albums by this artist and drummer Teppo MakynenFind albums by this artist. Three additional musicians guest on selected tracks. The album presents ten original compositions, all by Pohjola. Pohjola (born 1977) was for many years considered as one of the most promising young Finnish Jazz musicians and started his recording career quite early. As he states in the liner notes of this album, he considers it to be a “rite of passage” into the musical adulthood as he approaches the age of forty. The music is all strictly melody based, full of typical Nordic atmosphere, melancholy and reflection. The tunes are all carefully crafted and arranged and perfectly performed by the quartet with an occasional help from additional players. The performances are very clear, transparent and somewhat minimalist, with most of the soloing done by Pohjola, as expected. But the piano accompaniment is also quite intensive, with occasional soli, and the rhythm section adds an important support layer, which fits the desired atmosphere impeccably. Overall this is a beautiful album in all respects, which offers enchanting listening experience, emphasized by the excellent sound quality of the recording and superb compositions. For lovers of the Nordic Jazz atmosphere this album is an absolute charm, with Pohjola impersonating the pied piper with his sensuous trumpet, being completely irresistible. People who know Pohjola’s Improvised Music facet, will be surprised by his deep melodic aesthetics, which he displays herein, proving his diversity as a musician. Absolutely not to be missed!

Updated: 13/02/2021Posted: 13/02/2021

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