Biography

Svart Records released a reissue of jazz legend Edward Vesala's drum solo album in November 2022.

Drummer and composer Edward Vesala, the most internationally renowned jazz musician from Finland, was very keen on percussion instruments. Oddly enough, this broad and enduring interest is hardly evident on his albums.

Whether playing on his own albums or contributing to other musicians’ work, Vesala played a standard drum kit most of the time. He hardly used external percussionists on his own albums either. And most of all: his music was almost never percussive, at least in the traditional manner. Perhaps even stranger is the fact that he barely played any drum solos on his own albums.

That’s why I’m Here (Blue Master Special, SPEL 311, 1974), recorded in Helsinki in 1973, is such a rarity. Of course, being a limited release has also made it an expensive treasure among collectors. 

Additionally, I’m Here is Vesala’s only solo album and only percussive album, and one of the few where he can be said to play drum solos, albeit in his own idiosyncratic way.. 

It wasn’t exactly Vesala’s first time either. He had already played drums alone on the second side of the album Yksi, kaksi, kolme, neljä soul jumppaa (One, two, tree, four soul gymnastics, Gross Records, GRLP-27, 1969), though for purely instructive purposes, showcasing different rhythms and tempos.

"My favorite music is so called ‘free’ or very modern music (classical as well as jazz). But ‘cause of a very little jazz audience in Finland, I’m playing also pop jazz to get bread", Vesala introduced himself with a self-written English text, almost as if foreshadowing the diverse solo album, I’m Here. Compared to other releases of its time, the album was indeed “free’ or very modern music (classical as well as jazz)”, which may be the reason why it didn’t make a significant mark on the music scene or significantly benefit Vesala’s career at the time.

Jazz critic Lauri Karvonen described Vesala’s album as “certainly uncommercial” (Helsingin Sanomat, 8th of December, 1974). At the same time, he was delighted that “the most controversial contemporary jazz musician from Finland” has, “after years of prostituting (pop music, schlager), been able to completely dedicate himself to his own music.”

“The man is doing what he wants”, Karvonen summarizes.

Now, after being re-released, I’m Here can be appreciated for its manifesto-like and almost documentary nature. The album can be valued as a greatly interesting peek into Edward Vesala’s preferences and efforts in 1973, when he was still looking for his "own thing".

The reissue comes on vinyl only and is limited to 500 copies. The release comes with extensive liner notes by jazz critic Harri Uusitorppa. 

Tracklist

1. I'M HERE
2. HO PING (PEACE)
3. M. M. M.
4. BUT WE DIDN’T GET THE FOX
5. NATURAL ROCK FORMATION IN THE HARBOR
6. BYÅGZ
7. ONE FOR THE ROAD
8. SINATHROPUS
9. FOR YOU WHO BRING FLOWERS AND LOVE IN MY LONESOME BARED NEST
10. K. WN. V. H.
11. HOMAGE TO JAN GARBAREK
12. A DAY OF LIFE
13. MINTTU
14. UHURU
15. PALKIN KUTSU
16. MURLI MANOHAR
17. WHISPERING
18. "TRA-DRI, THEM-PA"
19. PURO – RIVULET