Biography

The third studio album by the Pekka Toivonen Ensemble, Sketches of Pain, deals with the darker sides of life: addictions and self-destructiveness, but also universal connectedness — and even color theory.

"This music is semiotic. It's the factual channelling of various emotions, in other words, art," explains Pekka Toivonen.

The project began back in 2018 when Toivonen spent the winter in Seville. However, not a single note was written at that time.

"The Andalusian colors, landscapes, and state of mind subconsciously made their way into the final studio sessions. We combined Spanish energy with Finnish melancholy — and the recent shocking bad news," Toivonen refers to the tragedies he has experienced.

The album features top Finnish musicians such as the Teosto Award-winning Okko Saastamoinen (drums), cult band Mopo’s Eero Tikkanen (bass), conductor Saku Mattila (oboe), and one of Finland's busiest freelance musicians, Tatu Ahola (cello).

"You’ll hear a saxophone for one note (Ukko Heinonen). We are categorized as a jazz band, but based on the soundscape of this album, I would say we’ve wriggled out of that chain too. Music is just music," sums up Toivonen.

The opening track Born;Bells;Blease was created in collaboration with the legendary DJ Tixa. Organic instruments blend with electronics to create symphonic techno jazz.

I’m OK is also a collaboration between Tixa and Toivonen. Drawing inspiration from whale communication, the piece utilizes the so-called shadowing technique; it is played over the songs of whales. The piece concludes with Tixa’s spoken word translation (whale–English).

Sketches of Pain was largely created live in the studio.

"Almost all the 'sheet music pieces' were ranked out. Music must be alive, emotional, and true," says Toivonen.

Exceptions include the modest hit song Pohtio and the album’s closing track Väriympyrä. In this Toivonen composition, each instrument of the ensemble represents a color of the color wheel, with the piano representing black and white.

"As a former graphic designer, I've long been interested in how colors sound. This represents the current peak of my exploration. It also beautifully reflects the sound of our ensemble; juice and poison. Just as individual colors and their combinations are beautiful and harmonious, mixing all colors together creates — of course — pure free jazz mud."

Tracklist

1. Born;Bells;Blease (feat. Tixa)
2. Sevillassa sataa 
3. Rioja
4. Immet
5. Pohtio
6. Lonkeroviitta
7. I’m OK (feat. Tixa)
8. Eerolle
9. Väriympyrä