RuOK?
Album
Cover: Tuomo Laakso
Album information
| Performer | Tuomas Ruokonen Quartet |
| Released | 20.1.2023 |
| Players |
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| Label | Omakustanne/Self-released |
| Producer | Äänitys, tuotanto ja miksaus Väinö Karjalainen (Arppa, Ursus Factory, J. Karjalainen) |
| Listen |
Biography
Improvisation brings depth to the underlying observations about life on Tuomas Ruokonen Quartet's debut EP RuOK?.
The music of the band combines Nordic jazz and Sigur Rós-inspired post-rock sound. The name of the EP refers not only to the name of bandleader Tuomas Ruokonen, but also to the question "Are you okay?"
"Sometimes it's good to ask yourself how things are going. I want to go deeper as a musician to express something that is personally meaningful to me. That idea is strongly behind the songs on this EP," says Ruokonen.
Ruokonen, who is finishing his master's studies in Holland, has a visual impairment. He believes that people's differences lead to unique and interesting art.
"Many people would imagine that visual impairment limits artistic work. Especially when studying composition, I have noticed that by limiting options, you end up with new artistic solutions."
Tuomas Ruokonen Quartet is built around the music of drummer-composer Ruokonen. In addition to him, guitarist Ville-Veikko Airaniemi (Arppa), bassist Oskari Siirtola (Sointi Jazz Orchestra, Elena Mindru Finnection), and pianist Toomas Keski-Säntti (OK:KO, Jukka Perko PreBoppers) play in the band.
Tracklist
- The Beginning
- Smaller than Three
- Laura
- RuOK?
- March of the Sons
- Sumu