Led by pianist Alexi Tuomarila and saxophonist Nicolas Kummert, Drifter picks up from where Tuomarila’s Quartet left. The new album, “Flow”, comes out on renowned British label, Edition Records.
Finnish pianist Alexi Tuomarila and Belgian saxophonist Nicolas Kummert continue collaboration on new recording by quartet Drifter. The upcoming album, Flow, presents music that is very much in keeping with moods suggested by the title: flowing, inventive, fresh – even hypnotic. In addition to the leading pair, the group is formed by bassist Axel Gilain and drummer Teun Verbruggen. At times the album also features vocals, delivered by Kummert and Gilain, which add a very special, characteristic and unexpected layer to Drifter’s sound. Flow will be issued on the rising British label Edition Records.
The group has, in fact existed for some time under the name Alexi Tuomarila Quartet. The critically-acclaimed constellation released their album O2 in 2003 on Warner Music France, but when the label underwent some restructuring, the Warner Jazz sublabel went out of business altogether, leaving Alexi Tuomarila Quartet without a label and management. According to Tuomarila, the new name thus symbolises Drifter’s rise from the ashes of the old quartet.
With Flow, Drifter makes a confident return to the European jazz scene. The album presents compositions from Tuomarila and Kummert, excluding a track penned by bassist Gilain and a loan from the repertory of pop veteran Sting, arranged by Tuomarila. The album forms yet another chapter in the fruitful collaboration between Edition Records and Finnish jazz artists, the previous ones including Alexi Tuomarila Trio, Verneri Pohjola and Oddarrang. The new Drifter-album comes out on vinyl, CD and in digital format.
Alexi Tuomarila (b. 1974) is one of the leading jazz artists of his generation in Finland. He leads his own trio, whose album Seven Hills, came out on Edition Records to acclaim in 2013. A member of such world-class jazz groups as Tomasz Stanko Quartet, Mats Eilertsen SkyDive, Manuel Dunkel Quartet and Eero Koivistoinen Quartet, Tuomarila is completed his studies in Brussels – from whence derives his strong connection to the jazz scene of Belgium.
http://editionrecords.com/artists/drifter
Drifter: Flow
Edition Records 2015 EDN1059 CD/LP/digital (release date in Finland: 28 August 2015)
1. Crow Hill (Alexi Tuomarila) / 2. The Elegist (Alexi Tuomarila) / 3. Lighthouse (Nicolas Kummert) / 4. Harmattan (Nicolas Kummert) / 5. Nothing Ever Lasts (Alexi Tuomarila, sanat Axel Gilain) / 6. Breathing Out My Soul (Nicolas Kummert) / 7. Toueï (Axel Gilain) / 8. King of Pain (Sting, sovitus Alexi Tuomarila) / 9. Vagabond (Alexi Tuomarila)
Alexi Tuomarila, piano / Nicolas Kummert, saxophone and vocals / Axel Gilain, bass and vocals / Teun Verbruggen, drums