Biography

Composer and arranger Jussi Lampela’s new album seeks connection between musicians, musical styles and the listener. Five Corners Quintet stalwarts Jukka Eskola (trumpet) and Teppo Mäkynen (drums) guest star on all tracks.

The Jussi Lampela Ensemble album Common Ground brings together the freedom of jazz, the sonic depth of classical music and the experimental sound world of synthesizers. The starting point of the album lies in Jussi Lampela’s personal need to pause and ask where his music could go next. He describes the project as a desire to find a shared space where different musical backgrounds can meet without being forced.

Common Ground is built on minimalist, slowly evolving structures, hypnotic repetition and a strong sense of presence. The music reflects Lampela’s jazz background, his years of work within the Finnish orchestral field, and strong influences from Berlin’s music culture.

Trumpeter Jukka Eskola and drummer Teppo Mäkynen play key roles as Lampela’s long-time trusted collaborators. Violinist Ilkka Lehtonen from The Vantaa Orchestra and other string players bring classical color and vitality to the sound, while electronic elements open up new layers within the music.

Jussi Lampela (b. 1972) is a composer, arranger and guitarist working at the intersection of jazz, classical music and popular music. For over 15 years he has worked extensively on composition and arranging for concerts, recordings, film and television productions. Lampela has collaborated with many leading Finnish orchestras and top-level musicians, and his music is characterized by a strong personal voice and a deep interest in bringing different musical worlds together.

Tracklist

1. Steady-Loose
2. Front-Sides
3. Sorrow-Comfort
4. Sub-Ultra
5. Poly-Uni
6. Dusk-Dawn
7. Implode-Explode
8. Flat-Bent