Biography

Award-winning trumpeter Mikko Pettinen and Dutch jazz pianist Merlijn Angad Gaur duet on the album Sketches, Songs and Improvisations.

Award-winning trumpeter and composer Mikko Pettinen and Dutch jazz pianist Merlijn Angad Gaur collaborate on a new album, Sketches, Songs and Improvisations. Consisting of both original compositions and traditional songs, the timeless and touching musical journey takes the listener through many different moods. Aftiteling, Improvisation: 'One' and For JK are melancholic, while Improvisation: 'Two' and With the Flow are lighter in tone.



"For me, music reflects on the essence of life. It is the collaboration with people from all different backgrounds and musical views that makes my musical journey so rewarding," says Merlijn Angad Gaur.



Mikko Pettinen is an award-winning jazz trumpeter, soul singer, keyboardist, composer and arranger. He is also a trumpet teacher at Metropolia and the Pop-Jazz Conservatory. A graduate of the Sibelius Academy, Pettinen was chosen as the best soloist at the prestigious Getxon ensemble competition in 2002. At the same time, his MP4 band won the unofficial European championship at Getxon (Jazz Getxo Live, Hilargi 2002). MP4's debut album Central Playa was nominated for a Jazz-Emma Award, and was voted the best jazz album of 2004 by critics in a vote by Jazzrytmit magazine.



Merlijn Angad Gaur studied piano at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. His first major project was composing the score for the Dutch-Japanese co-production De Reis van de Liefde. He is the second member of the band Wise Man's Child and works as a career coach and mentor at Musical Minutes, a platform he founded.

Tracklist

1. Iltalaulu  
2. Aftiteling
3. Improvisation “one”
4. Interlude: Hymn 228A
5. For JK
6. Glass
7. Improvisation “Two”
8. Extra: With the Flow