Biography

The debut album of Tomi Nikku 5tet, bearing the name Light & Shade, consists of both cheerfully optimistic and dark-toned and stand-alone compositions.

Trumpet player Tomi Nikku, who was recently lauded as an emerging talent by Pori Jazz, draws on such moods as the polarization of society and the climate crisis for his new compositions. The album Light & Shade, released in September 2021, is a two-part ensemble in which the atmosphere of the compositions in the first part is optimistically light and uplifting. In the songs of the latter part, Nikku, in turn, has channeled the feelings and thoughts caused by injustice and social extremism.

Tomi Nikku appreciates humanity, honesty and authenticity and he strives to nurture those in his music. The values ​​can be heard in his compositions and improvisation as colorful and impressive expression. The recognizable sound of Tomi Nikku 5tet is guaranteed by an instrumentation that differs from the usual quintet line-up, where warm tones are created by Ilkka Uksila's vibraphone and Max Zenger's bass clarinet.

Two singles have been released from the album. Inceptum (Latin for “beginning”) is the first song composed by Tomi Nikku specifically for 5tet. The single representing the bright tones of the album includes Nikku's enthusiasm for founding a new band and writing his own music. The song itself is originally based on Wayne Shorter’s E.S.P. composition.

The second single What Is It (That You’re So Afraid Of) is a calmly evolving ballad from the darker side of the album. The composition challenges us to weigh the individual's value choices and to reflect on attitudes towards society and its events.

"Bowman Trio has young trumpeter Nikku in a more conventional and melodic mood than with Alder Ego – but reinforcing the impression of a talent worth watching." 

– London Jazz News, Peter Slavid

Tracklist

1. Inceptum Intro
2. Inceptum
3. Who Goes First?
4. V.E.N.
5. Trumpet Intro / Yearnin'
6. Emboldened
7. What Is It (that You're So Afraid Of) 
8. Yearnin'