Record Reviews

HEIKKI SARMANTO SERIOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE ~ A BOSTON DATE PORTER 4002 (Barcode: 656605854625) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008 This is one of those albums, which immediately invoke the recurring question: "How many recordings like this one remain hidden and unreleased all over the world?" The fact that it took 38 years for this gem to surface is criminally negligent, to put it mildly, with the only solace being the proverbial better late than never. Finnish pianist / composer Heikki SarmantoFind albums by this artist has been one of my favorite musicians for the last four decades, always awe-inspiring and never disappointing. His life-time achievements indisputably deserve a book-sized biography (unfortunately not written yet) and his role as Europe´s leading Jazz personality and a prominent creator of the emancipated European Jazz is sadly little known outside of a tiny circle of connoisseurs and researches. In fact the entire Finnish music scene often appears to be the one of world´s best hidden secrets, which is amazing in view of the miraculous contribution of Finnish musicians and composers to the Pantheon of the overall human musical culture. Apparently even the most devoted music fans and critics often suffer from chronic narrow-mindedness and Xenophobia, with Americans leading the camp, with pride and remarkable consistency, over the years. Although recorded in 1970, this session does not reflect Sarmanto´s early musical steps. He was 31 years old at the time and already a seasoned musician, with extensive Classical Music education (a graduate of the Helsinki Sibelius Music Academy - the country´s most prestigious musical education institution) and extensive Jazz experience going back almost a decade earlier as member of several Jazz ensembles active on the country´s burgeoning scene. In 1964-65 Sarmanto took part in the recording of Finland´s first modern Jazz album, the legendary "The Modern Sound Of FinlandFind albums with this title" by saxophonist / flautist Esa PethmanFind albums by this artist, and his piano playing on that album already sounds refined and focused. In 1968 Sarmanto was the first Finn to be awarded a scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, which gave him a chance to get some formal Jazz education (the Jazz department of the Sibelius Academy would be established only in the early 1980s, and of course Sarmanto would be appointed its first department head). Sarmanto used his time in Boston not only to expand his formal Jazz horizons, but also to mingle and play as much as he could on the local Jazz scene, which was quite active at the time. The Berklee students and the local musicians often gigged together and soon enough ensembles were formed. Following a brief home visit in 1969, during which Sarmanto recorded his first album as a leader, a live sextet recording released as "Flowers In The WaterFind albums with this title" (on which Pethman is also featured), he returned to Boston to "wrap up" his Berklee affairs. During that period he formed the quintet, quite accidently, which is often the best way for things to happen, which is featured on this semi-professional recording. The quintet consists of Sarmanto on piano, another Finnish giant, saxophonist / flautist Juhani AaltonenFind albums by this artist, who followed Sarmanto to Berklee but lasted only one semester (without a grant the finances were just against all odds), Czech bassists George MrazFind albums by this artist, who also arrived in Boston on a Berklee grant (together with compatriot pianist Jan HammerFind albums by this artist), escaping the brutal Warsaw Pact forces invasion of their homeland, following the brief "Spring of Prague" in 1969, the first major crack in the Berlin Wall. The remaining two musicians were guitarist Lance GundersonFind albums by this artist and drummer Craig HerndonFind albums by this artist, both Bostonians at the time. The quintet was nicknamed, half-jokingly, The Serious Music EnsembleFind albums by this artist, a name which would stick to several Sarmanto´s groups in the future, featuring the core of this quintet. The three Europeans and two Americans obviously had no difficulty in communicating musically, and it´s hardly surprising that they chose to play mostly Free Form, for several reasons. The air was still reverberating with the sounds of Albert AylerFind albums by this artist, Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, with the US Free Jazz scene at its peak by the end of the 1960s (unfortunately soon to be almost completely neglected, passing the torch to the Europeans). The limited, if any, rehearsal time the ensemble had before entering the studio, obviously left most of the content to be developed at the spur of the moment, making collective improvisation the only logical path to follow. And perhaps the youthful spirit of rebellion had also something to do with it, considering Berklee´s extreme conservatism, which is legendary even today. Aaltonen, the oldest and most experienced musician on board, already had extensive Free Jazz practice, after playing with Finnish pioneers of the genre, most notably with drummer Edward VesalaFind albums by this artist, and his contributions are the most consistent, with remarkable power of expression, intensity and technical brilliance rivaling the Masters of the genre. The six pieces played during the session, all composed by Sarmanto, are performed in one continuous flow with no gaps between them. Typically, after a briefly stated theme, the musicians enter a series of exchanges, with one, two or even three players soloing simultaneously, with the rhythm section frequently changing the tempo. Most of the material is up-tempo, except for the beautiful ballad, which ends the set (dedicated to Margareth ChaloffFind albums by this artist, the legendary piano teacher), which is the gentlest and most structured piece on the album, featuring the exquisite bass work by Mraz and more typical of Sarmanto´s future output. In many respects the session is quite typical European Free Jazz, resembling many similar musical encounters happening in Europe at the time, especially in the UK, but also in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. It is quite distinctly different from American Free Jazz, which demonstrates rawer and more spontaneous approach but lacks the European Classical Music background, which is deeply implanted in the minds of European musicians, evident even in the most extreme Improvised Music experiments. In many respects, this session is probably one of the most "European sounding" recordings ever captured at a US studio. It is really interesting to compare this session with the material recorded by the almost identical quintet (exchange Mraz with Heikki´s brother bassist Pekka SarmantoFind albums by this artist) just a few months later and released as Sarmanto´s second (first studio) album "CounterbalanceFind albums with this title" (also reissued on PorterFind albums on this label Records). With Aaltonen playing exclusively flute and Sarmanto switching to Fender Rhodes, this seems to be a completely different group, even if still pretty much in the Free vain. The European influence simply becomes overwhelming, changing the music dramatically. Even if the sound quality of this recording is not up to modern digital standards (the recording was most probably not intended to be commercially released), the musical content and the immense historical importance of this session make it an indispensible document of the highest value. Kudos to Luke MoslingFind albums by this artist, the brave owner of Porter Records, for releasing this treasure and making it available to us, the music lovers, and saving a lost gem from extinction. Sarmanto´s followers worldwide will be obviously delighted to hear this, as should be every connoisseur of good music, especially those who follow the emergence of the modern European Jazz. Brilliant stuff! Visitors' Comments Dr. Rafael Augusto Lara Palmeros One of the most impressive, extraordinary and wonderful work from real modern European Jazz.¡¡Very essential!!. More of five stars.

Updated: 29/09/2017Posted:

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