Aki Rissanen Trio, one of the leading bands in European jazz, tours Finland in March 2022 with eight concerts. Along with Rissanen, the trio includes bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. All three feature among the most respected musicians in Finland.
The trio, led by currently Lyon-based pianist Aki Rissanen, has been counted among one of the most interesting Finnish jazz ensembles for some time already. The albums Amorandom (2016), Another North (2017) and Art In Motion (2019) released by the British Edition Records have been strong demonstrations of the band's abilities, and with them Rissanen and his trio achieved their international breakthrough, rising to the forefront of the European jazz scene.
Now the band is finally able to perform the music of Art In Motion on tour - and in the spirit of the album’s name. With the release of the album, an even more unified and coordinated trio was heard, and their playing was described as singularly distinctive and ambitious. Art In Motion was selected as one of the two best jazz records in 2019 by Helsingin Sanomat and was named Editor's Pick in the seminal jazz magazine Downbeat.
Rissanen’s own sentiments confirm the assessment: “Playing this material has at least shown that our sound now stands out more from other bands. Even though the band bears my name, Antti and Teppo’s contribution to the sound has always been significant. This trio follows its very own path and doesn’t shy away from taking risks. Our modern expression shakes hands with jazz tradition.”
Pianist Aki Rissanen is one of the most interesting and followed jazz musicians of the moment, whose career is on a strong international rise. He studied classical piano for 12 years before moving on to jazz. He has studied at the Kuopio and Paris conservatories and at the Jazz Department of Sibelius Academy, where he graduated with a master's degree in music in 2009. Rissanen received the prestigious second prize in the solo piano competition at the 2004 Montreux Jazz Festival. He was awarded best soloist and best repertoire at La Defense Festival in Paris in 2006. The Rissanen trio has been active since 2002 and Teppo Mäkynen joined the drums in 2012.
The tour is produced by Raitala Music Oy as a co-production with Jazz Finland.
Schedule
Wed 16 March Trattoria Sorrento Wanha Mylly, Kuopio
Thu 17 March Kalevan Navetta, Seinäjoki
Fri 18 March Poppari, Jyväskylä
Mon 21 March Koko Jazz Club, Helsinki
Wed 23 March Kulttuurikellari, Savonlinna
Thu 24 March Oulun Music Festival, Oulu
Fri 25 March Congress and Cultural Centre Kaukametsä, Kajaani
Sat 26 March Joensuu Conservatory
Ensemble
Aki Rissanen, piano
Antti Lötjönen, double bass (substituted by Ville Herrala 16 March)
Teppo Mäkynen, drums
Links
www.akirissanen.com
www.facebook.com/akirissanenpage
www.instagram.com/aki_rissanen
Youtube
Art in Motion on Spotify
Photo: Dave Stapleton