Biography

Aulos is Jimi Tenor's second album on Philophon.

Aulos is a woodwind instrument from ancient Greece - like the tenor sax is a woodwind instrument of modern times. In its mythological meaning the Aulos symbolises ecstasy and this-worldliness. It was played by the Satyrs, who surrounded Dionysos, the god of earthly bliss. Will Jimi Tenor turn into Jimi Aulos on this joyful album? Find out yourself!

Aulos is Jimi Tenor's second album on Philophon. The core crew is the same as on Order of Nothingness: beside the Finnish singer and multi-instrumentalist there are the two drummers Ekow Alabi Savage from Ghana and Max Weissenfeldt from Germany, the latter of whom is also the producer of Aulos.

While the basic recordings were cut at Tonstudio Blütenring in Berlin-Kreuzberg, the finishing touch happened at Philophon’s newly established Joy Sound Studios in Kumasi, Ghana. Therefore the album presents some local guests from Ghana. Two Frafra-Gospel queens, Florence Adooni and Lizzy Amaliyenga, are featured on lead vocals on Vocalize My Luv and the Frafra-Gospel classic Ki’igba, which Jimi re-arranged in his own musical language. Furthermore, you will hear a young shooting star of the vibrant music scene in Kumasi: Kofi Emma on the Kpanlogo, a Ghanaian drum which historically is the forefather of the well known Conga. Last but not least, we hear guitar player Sergio Manuel on the krautrockish piece 128 Cosmic Rock. The instrumental Afroeuropean reflects in its title the bridge this album has built between the two continents.

This bridging also runs through the cover artwork: here the Ghanaian artist Babs provides his very personal interpretation of the epic painting Väinämöisen soitto by the Finnish painter Robert Wilhelm Ekman, who worked in the 19th century, which Jimi puts into a scenario surrounded by characters from Finnish mythology.

Jimi says: ”Like the name of the album Aulos suggests I wanted to feature flute quite heavily on it. I love complicated melodies and structures, so there are a couple of songs where went just for it. Of course the core of the album is groove based music with African-style bass lines“.

Tracklist

1. SUGAR AND SPICE
2. SMALL THINGS
3. AULOS I
4. TEN DIMENSIONS
5. AFROEUROPEAN
6. AULOS II
7. VOCALIZE MY LUV
8. LOVER’S BRIDGE
9. 128 COSMIC ROCK
10. MY BABY
11. KI’IGBA
12. AULOS III