Record Reviews

OK:KO ~ LAND E. AMP 011 (Barcode: 662578831044) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the debut album by young Finnish Jazz quartet OK:KOFind albums by this artist, led by drummer / composer Okko SaastamoinenFind albums by this artist, which also includes saxophonist Jarno TikkaFind albums by this artist, pianist Toomas Keski-SanttiFind albums by this artist and bassist Mikael SaastamoinenFind albums by this artist. The album presents five original compositions, all by the leader. The music is a great example of interesting contemporary European Jazz, based on clearly defined melodic themes, but allowing a lot of freedom and space for the quartet members to interpret the music on individual basis, which often sounds as if the quartet members play on separate planes, yet somehow manage to keep everything coherently together. Another fascinating aspect of the music is the extensive usage of uneven rhythmic patterns, with the music falling in and out of the obvious swinging outline and changing the rhythm often within a singular phrase. As usual with young European Jazz musicians it is amazing to see such a profound understanding of the Jazz idiom and a mighty arsenal of technical tricks and originality, which one does not usually expect to find with musicians of their age. Altogether this album leaves a very strong impression and it is a very impressive debut outing indeed. The only drawback is the very short duration of the music (just over thirty five minutes), which usually would be classified as an EP. These young Lions are surely worth being followed, and they will surely produce more of such wonderful music as found on this album. In the meantime, just keep playing and composing!

Updated: 22/07/2017Posted: 22/07/2017

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend