Biography

Air Force Big Band released a new album Maisemakuvia Suomesta on April 4^th to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of military music. Multi-instrumentalist Pepa Päivinen is the soloist of the album with saxophones and flute. The album consists of Anssi Tikanmäki´s compositions that are now rearranged and recorded for the first time for big band.

Anssi Tikanmäki´s Maisemakuvia Suomesta -compositions are now arranged for the big band, first time ever. Arrangement is done with respect of the originals, but with a support from the composer. The soloist Pepa Päivinen (b. 1955) is multi-instrumentalist with talent on woodwinds, such as bass-, tenor- and sopranosaxophone, clarinet, bassclarinet and flute. He has played in Jukka Tolonen Band, participated in Edward Vesala´s Sound&Fury workshops in 1984-85, and 1989-97, and has played in UMO since 80s. In 2000 Päivinen was awarded with Jazz Finland´s Yrjö-award.

The Finnish Air Force Big Band is based in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä, and was established in 1977. It has a long tradition of playing big band music. Air Force Big Band has produced it´s own AALTO concert series in Jyväskylä since year 2008. Concerts have also been brought outside Jyväskylä around Finland featuring variety of star guests from Finland and abroad. The senior conductor of Air Force Big Band is major Juha Ketola.

Tracklist

1. Lapin tunturitAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Jere Laukkanen
2. Kesäranta Etelä-SaimaallaAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Raila Kulokoski
3. Valkeakosken tehtaanpiiputAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Teemu Takanen
4. Savolainen metsäAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Mikko Suhonen
5. KiutaköngäsAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Vesa-Pekka Pisto
6. Tuusulan moottoritieAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Janne Vihavainen
7. Aamu lakeuksillaAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Janne Huttunen
8. Muuttuva maaseutuAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Liisa Lipas
9. Voi veljetAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Markku Renko
10. ImatrankoskiAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Erno Tiittanen
11. Yoigu LapizzaAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Ville Vannemaa
12. Arvottomat = The worthlessAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Jussi Kosonen
13. Balladi elokuvasta KlaaniAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Tuomas J. Turunen
14. AiristoAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Artturi Rönkä
15. Borgå = PorvooAnssi Tikanmäki, arr. Sampo Kasurinen