Going by the name of their leader, Jori Huhtala 5 bring out their debut on Friday 23 January 2015 on the label Fredriksson Music. Huhtala has called up some of his favourite musicians to play his original compositions, which bring together old and new traditions of jazz with a unique freshness, even quirkiness. Jori Huhtala 5 tread confidently in the wide world of jazz, from time to time even approaching the realms of pop and film music.
The role of the jazz bassist comes easily equated with that of the accompanist. That makes solo albums by jazz bassists relatively rare, especially in Finland. Jori Huhtala is known both as an excellent sideman and soloist, with exceptional skills to adapt to a wide range of groups. On his debut album Huhtala reveals yet another side of himself - that of a talented composer and arranger. Huhtala’s individual compositions have clearly inspired his bandmates to a delightfully playful and enthusiastic performance.
Jori Huhtala 5 is formed by some of the top talents of Finnish jazz. Saxophonists Mikko Innanen and Joakim Berghäll have proven their artistic integrity as soloists in a number of projects over the years. One of the most active Finnish jazzers in the international field, Innanen is known as an experimentalist whose music calls conventional generic boundaries frequently into question. He leads groups Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio, Mikko Innanen 10+, PLOP, Gourmet and Delirium. Joakim Berghäll is a truly multitalented artist. Best-known perhaps from groups Auteur Jazz and Fredator, he has also made a successful solo career. In addition, Berghäll has appeared in rock veteran Ismo Alanko’s group Tsuumi Sound System and in Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble.
Like Innanen and Berghäll, pianist Aki Rissanen has been recognised as a virtuoso player who follows his own path. His collaborative projects with such names as David Liebman, Rick Margitza and Robin Verheyen have been praised by critics around the globe. In addition to leading his own bands, Rissanen plays in Verneri Pohjola’s, Esa Pietilä’s and Mikko Hassinen’s groups.
Ville Pynssi is a versatile and trusted jazz drummer, whose creative and effortless drumming provides as swinging backbone for a host Finnish groups. Such key figures of Finnish jazz as Jukka Perko, Severi Pyysalo, Timo Lassy and UMO Jazz Orchestra have entrusted the drummer’s duties with Pynssi thanks to his unerring sense of style.
The past few years have seen Jori Huhtala (b. 1984) become one of the most sought-after jazz bassists in Finland. His longest-standing groups include Kvalda and Big Blue, both of which approach jazz from an original angle, and he plays the bass in Eero Koivistoinen’s, Raoul Björkenheim’s, Jussi Fredriksson’s and Panu Savolainen’s outfits. Huhtala has collaborated with a number of world-class stars, including David Liebman, Billy Hart, Tim Hagans and Tim Ries.
Jori Huhtala 5: Jori Huhtala 5
Fredriksson Music / FRMCD011(release date 23 Jan 2015)
1. De-termination / 2. Things You Missed / 3. Stop the Violets / 4. It’s
Me-time Now / 5. Acing Men / 6. The Longest Wait / 7. Skipping / 8. Almost
Over You
JORI HUHTALA 5
Jori Huhtala, bass / Mikko Innanen, saxophones / Joakim Berghäll,
saxophones / Aki Rissanen, piano / Ville Pynssi, drums