As their name suggests, Teddy’s West Coasters, led by drummer-composer-producer Teppo Mäkynen, make a nod to the sound of the 1950s and 1960s West Coast jazz. The first disc of their two-volume debut album comes out at the time of the Pori Jazz Festival.
Often dubbed as Finland’s number one jazz drummer, Teppo Mäkynen publishes a new recording as a leader of his own stellar octet, Teddy’s West Coasters. The album – the first one of a two-album whole – comes out on label KHY Suomen Musiikki on 10 July and will be followed by a Volume 2 in the autumn. So far having given only a few odd live performers, the group, composed of some of the most renowned Finnish jazz artists including saxophonist Jukka Perko, trumpeter Jukka Eskola and bassist Antti Lötjönen, will take the main stage of the Pori Jazz Festival on 16 July to celebrate the debut effort.
Teddy’s West Coasters finds a source of inspiration in the West Coast jazz, an era beloved by the leading man Mäkynen. Central traits of this genre that developed in the west coast of the United States in the 1950s and 1960s include an effortless swing, melodicity and breezy arrangements. Whilst drawing from this rich and distinctive musical soil especially in formal aspects, a fresh breeze of modernity carries the compositions and arrangements of Mäkynen and co. from the mid-20th century firmly to the 2010s.
“Each musical style has its history and drawing from this history does not, in my opinion, automatically make the outcome retro”, says Mäkynen. “West Coast jazz is our inspirational springboard, but equally important to us is to find a fresh angle to this tradition and, by cultivating an ideal of craftmanship, make our hand show in the final product. I am delighted to present this gifted group to the audience on not one but two recordings. Despite being twins, these albums have different personalities: the first one I would describe as summery, while the second volume sounds a shade darker and more autumnal – as is fitting considering the release dates.”
Mäkynen’s crew is composed of Jukka Perko who will be heard on alto sax and clarinet on the album; baritone sax player Ville Vannemaa; trumpeters Jukka Eskola and Mikko Karjalainen; trombonist Kasperi Sarikoski; tubist Miika Jämsä and bassist Antti Lötjönen. Six of the album’s tracks Mäkynen’s new original compositions, while the remainder come from the repertories of George Gershwin, Bud Shank, Sy Oliver and Harry Warren. The group’s instrumentation allows nuanced and rich arrangements and in this task Mäkynen has been assisted by composer-arranger Jussi Lampela. In addition, one track is arranged by Ville Vannemaa.
Indeed, Teddy’s West Coasters are characterised by tight-knit team-playing and dialogue between the band members. The line-up changes from octet to solo, which itself is an illustration of the scope of Mäkynen’s artistic vision: the octet is like a multi-part instrument of its own, enabling the composer-leader to tell the stories that he has through eight voices.
Teddy's West Coasters: Volume 1
KHY Suomen Musiikki Oy KHYCD070 (release dates CD: 10 July 2015 / LP: August 2015)
1. Love Is Here to Stay (G. Gershwin) / 2. Those Summer Days (T. Mäkynen) / 3. Culver Loop (part 1) (T. Mäkynen) / 4. The More I See You (H. Warren) / 5. The Awakening (B. Shank) / 6. Dark Horns (T. Mäkynen) / 7. Saddlebred (T. Mäkynen) / 8. For Dancers Only (S. Oliver) / 9. Drums, For Example (13 Impulsive Short Stories and Poems in Rhythm)* (T. Mäkynen) / 10. Saviour (Transition)* (T. Mäkynen)
*Tracks 9 and 10 released only on CD (and on the bonus CD included in the LP pack)
Teppo Mäkynen, drums / Jukka Perko, alto sax & clarinet / Ville Vannemaa, baritone sax / Jukka Eskola, trumpet & flugelhorn/ Mikko Karjalainen, trumpet & flugelhorn/ Kasperi Sarikoski, trombone / Miika Jämsä, tuba / Antti Lötjönen, bass
Arrangements: Jussi Lampela (tracks 1 / 2 / 4 and 8), Ville Vannemaa (5)
Teddy's West Coasters live
Pori Jazz, Main Stage
Thu 16 July at 1:30PM
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