Jazz Finland Live

Rakka at 9:00PM
Black Motor at 10:00PM
LightBoxer at 23:00PM

Rakka is a Tampere-based instrumental quintet whose members are known from such groups as Black Motor, Tampo, Hehkumo, Anssi Tikanmäki Orchestra, Markku Peltolan Buster Keaton Orkesteri and Circle. The group plays compositions by Kusti Vuorinen, Masa Orpana and Ville Rauhala that incorporate influences from jazz, blues, gospel, folk music and old dance music. Their music coud be described as simultaneously old and new with a heavy emphasis on improvisation. The sonic world where this group goes on an adventure draws upon the tradition of jazz but not without new elements from other genres.

The members of Black Motor hail from Central Finland and the West Coast, but the oil that burns in this machine is drilled from the rich and organic musical ground of the Pispala esker, specifically the city of Tampere, one of the rock capitals of Finland. That's probably the reason why Black Motor, implied by their name as well, sounds like a brotherhood of jazz and rock. The group narrows their influences down to the continuum of Afro-American music, the many shades of blues, swing and the 60s free jazz, and even punk rock.

Behind Lightboxer, a 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 and it was nominated for the prestigious Teosto award.