Lightboxer is an instrumental band that rides the wave of Afro on a surfboard of improvisation. Tight grooves, irresistible melodies and a hint of cinematic ambience help fill the sails and set the course for the sunset. Behind this group of a distinctive sound and strong, almost visual moods we find two veritable labourers of the Finnish jazz scene; the Emma-awarded Markus Holkko and the guitarist Aki Haarala. The eponymous debut album was released in June 2012 by Texicalli Records.

The album was composed and produced by the pair Haarala-Holkko, and it was nominated for the Teosto music award, got raving reviews in numerous media and was chosen as one the jazz records of the year. Markus Holkko is one of the top sax players and band leaders in Scandinavia and won the Finnish Grammy award in the jazz category for his solo record in 2007. Aki Haarala also won the Finnish Grammy in the r'n'b/urban category in the same year with Markus for his co­-writing and playing as part of Finnish soul sensation Tuomo’s debut record. Aki has toured the world extensively, and Markus has played throughout Europe with his own quartet and as a co-­leader in U­-Street All Stars, a Finnish jazz super­group. As to the other members, they have been involved with several leading jazz, soul and pop groups, such as the rapper Paleface’s band, Emma Salokoski, Astro Can Caravan, Jukka Perko and Chisu.

Lightboxer performed at Tampere Jazz Happening, a festival famous for its uncompromising programme, in November 2013. At the festival, Holkko described the band’s approach to composing as follows:

When Aki (Haarala) and I were making music for the debut album, each of us brought his own influences into play. Our goal was to avoid excessive intellectuality and instead find a way of approach where what matters the most is the sound and not how it is brought about or which factors contribute to it.

Early in 2014 the group will tour in Japan and release its second album in connection with a Jazz Federation tour. The international label responsible for the release will remain unannounced for the present.

ed. Annamari Innanen 20.1.2014