Record Reviews

EMMA SALOKOSKI & ILMILIEKKI QUARTET ~ LIGGER DU FORTFARANDE I SANGEN! SVART 179 (Barcode: 6430065585916) ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz & Poetry Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018 This is an album by celebrated Finnish Jazz vocalist / composer Emma SalokoskiFind albums by this artist recorded with the Ilmiliekki QuartetFind albums by this artist, which comprises of trumpeter Verneri PohjolaFind albums by this artist, pianist Tuomo PrattalaFind albums by this artist, bassist Antti LotjonenFind albums by this artist and drummer Olavi LouhivouriFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original songs, three by Salokoski, two each by Prattala, Pohjola and Louhivouri. The lyrics of the songs are poems by Finnish (and in two cases Swedish) poets, which of course makes this a Jazz & Poetry project, one of my favorite genres. The booklet includes all the poems in Finnish, Swedish and English languages. The Jazz & Poetry idiom has been strongly present on the Finnish Jazz scene since the 1960s and some of its manifestations proved to be amongst the finest Finnish Jazz albums over the years, drawing a parallel between Finnish and Polish Jazz, which also seems to be enamored with that specific Art Form. The music, although beautifully lyrical, as appropriate for this environment, is quite complex and convoluted, which of course means that it requires a lot of attention from the listener and refuses to be banal at any point. The quartet plays modern European Jazz, with a lot of intrinsic freedom and space, keeping the listener on the edge at all times. All the compositions are excellent and all serve the texts perfectly, which of course is the essence of Jazz & Poetry projects. The personal contributions by all the participants are, as expected, absolutely perfect. Salokoski is a superb interpreter of the texts and offers a crystal clear tone and fascinating approach to melody. Pohjola, who within a space of a few years managed to climb right on the pedestal of Finnish Jazz, demonstrating brilliant technique and wonderful feel for the intricacies of the Jazz universe, which I had the pleasure to watch closely personally, is at his usual superb form here, and although he is mostly an accompanist rather than the main voice, stands up to the challenge with flying colors and his contributions are an essential part of the project. Prattala and the rhythm section are perfect in their respective roles supplying the harmonic and rhythmic foundations with elegance and flair. Overall this is a wonderful album, full of delicate music and aesthetic pleasures, challenging but highly rewarding intellectually, in short a unique gift of music that should be cherished. Well done everybody!

Updated: 19/08/2020Posted: 19/08/2020

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