Mainly composed of new pieces, the album is Ikonen’s third one to date and entirely in Finnish. In addition to the album-launch show at Helsinki’s Savoy Theatre, the vocalist and her crew will perform the new material around Finland on a launch tour.
Perhaps the First Lady of Finnish jazz, Aili Ikonen releases a new album this April. Entirely in Finnish, the recording, Laulan, is comprised of new compositions written by Ikonen and bassist-composer Mikko Pellinen. Lyrics have been penned by some of Finland’s foremost lyricists, including Timo Kiiskinen and Kanerva Pasanen, in addition to the vocalist herself. Both on the recording and stage, she is accompanied by the same trusted crew that was originally assembled for the lauded project, Tribute to Ella. The album will, of course, be launched with a bang: the launch show takes place at Savoy Theatre, Helsinki, on 9 April, and other shows will follow towards the end of the month and in May in Hämeenlinna, Kokkola, Kangasala, Kerava, Turku and Jyväskylä. The group will also take to the stage at summer festivals around the country.
This time, Ikonen has turned to the Great American Songbook, best-loved jazz standards and Finnish jazzy schlagers for inspiration. Indeed, there has been room for one loan song among the new material. That this will be a new chapter in the catalogue of contemporary Finnish vocal jazz is evident already from the line-up: in addition to the gifted singer and bassist Pellinen, the group includes trumpeter Janne Toivonen, saxophonist-flutist William Suvanne, pianist Tuomas J. Turunen and drummer Mikko Arlin – all excellent musicians with long careers ahead of them.
“Writing new material in Finnish has been a long-time dream for me and I’m extremely excited that it has finally come true,” says Ikonen. “I’m very privileged to work with such a fine group as this and we are really looking forward to sharing the new music with the audience.”
Watch the music video for song Laulan:
Aili Ikonen (b. 1982) has established herself among the best Finnish jazz singers. In recent years she has appeared in many acclaimed musical productions and performed, for example, at the Presidential Independence Day Reception with the Kaartin Combo (the Guard Combo). The third effort fits will in with Ikonen’s two previous albums: a collaborative album with the group HERD, Jazzbasilli delved into the goldmine of Finnish jazz-schlager; while Tribute to Ella paid homage to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald.
Aili Ikonen: Laulan
Groovy Records (GRCD1601, release date 8 Apr 2016)
Distributor: Playground Music
1. Kesälle / 2. Laulan / 3. Uskon unelmiin / 4. Haloo haloo / 5. Höyhen / 6. Raapaisit pintaa / 7. Pussi ja passi / 8. Nostat mua / 9. Sahara / 10. Beibin blues
Aili Ikonen, vocals / Mikko Pellinen, bass / Janne Toivonen, trumpet / William Suvanne, saxophones, flute / Tuomas J. Turunen, piano / Mikko Arlin, drums
Compositions, arrangements: Aili Ikonen, Mikko Pellinen
Lyrics: Aili Ikonen, Timo Kiiskinen, Kanerva Pasanen, Heidi Maria Paalanen
Aili Ikonen on Tour:
Sat 9 Apr at 19 Savoy Theatre, Helsinki (Kasarmikatu 46-48)
Tickets starting from 32/26 €, Show & Dinner 55 € (Lippupalvelu)
Fri 22 Apr at 19 Verkatehdas / Vanaja-sali, Hämeenlinna
Wed 27 and Thu 28 Apr at 19 Kokkolan kaupunginteatteri, Kokkola
Fri 6 May at 19 Kangasala-talo, Kangasala
Sat 7 May at 19 Kerava-sali, Kerava
Sat 21 May at19 Domino-teatteri, Turku
Fri 29 Jul at21 Korpo Sea Jazz, Korppoo
Sat 30 Jul at 21 Crusell-viikko, Uusikaupunki
Sat 6 Aug Otava Happy Jazz, Mikkeli
Sat 10 Sep Paviljonki, Jyväskylä