Oku, the third recording by pianist Joonas Haavisto’s trio, comes out on 8 January on Fredriksson Music. The release will be followed by a tour in Finland and, later in the spring, Japan.
Joonas Haavisto, one of the foremost Finnish jazz pianists, is releases his third trio album on 8 January on Fredriksson Music. Entitled Oku, the new album is a mix of Scandinavian ethereality, stylish straight-ahead pianism and the group’s individual, mature voice. The trio will celebrate the effort by giving three concerts in Finland and one in Tallinn. In April it is Japan’s turn.
Not only the title but the theme of the album, “oku” describes the 10-year path that the members have tread together. As to the line-up perhaps traditional, this trio has during those ten years found a dynamic and distinctive voice, to which every member’s personal playing experience and history yields a particular richness of tone. The drumsticks are wielded by Joonas Riippa, known for his inventive and playful style; while the bassist’s seat his held by Antti Lötjönen, surely the most sought-after jazz bassist of the country and last year’s Pori Jazz Artist of the Year.
Apart from one track, the album consists of Haavisto’s original compositions that have been inspired by the urban milieu of Tokyo, Finnish nature and the latter country’s national composer Jean Sibelius whose 150th anniversary was celebrated just last year. While the album’s material is deeply rooted in the tradition of jazz, harmonic and melodic patterns allow for freer expression as well. The title, “oku”, is Japanese and stands for inner space or state.
“Patient anticipation, trust in the future and a drive to dig deeper are central to the discovery of an inner space. This kind of idea describes well my philosophy composition – the deeper you dare penetrate the more you’ll discover,” Haavisto says about the gestation of the album.
The album-launch concert will take place at the event Soiva Akatemia at the Music Centre, Helsinki, on 14 January. In addition to this, the trio will perform their new material at Tallinn’s jazz club Philly Joe’s on 13 January, at Turku’s Flame Jazz concert series on 15 January and at the Koli Jazz Festival on 16 January. At the Finnish gigs, they will be joined by the two-time Grammy-winning American saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, who has, in recent years, collaborated with the likes of Ari Hoening, Esperanza Spalding, Gregory Porter and Roy Hargrove. This is not the first time for Haavisto and Pennicott to join forces: the pair first played together as students of Miami’s Frost School of Music in 2005-2006. In April, Haavisto will take his trio as far away as to Japan for a tour in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Just a few weeks ago, Haavisto hosted a five-concert series at his very own home. The unusual concert series belonged to the programme of the We Jazz Festival and saw the pianist form a duo with a changing guest, including both Riippa and Lötjönen. The homey concerts proved a success with almost all of them selling out in advance.
Joonas Haavisto Trio: Oku
Fredriksson Music 2016 (FRMCD016, release date 8 Jan 2016)
1. One For Jean / 2. Winter Sleep / 3. Frozen / 4. Xibalba / 5. Singularity / 7. Chilling At Shinjuku / 8. Band Wagon / 9. When I Fall In Love
Compositions: Joonas Haavisto (except When I Fall In Love: Victor Young)
Joonas Haavisto, piano / Antti Lötjönen, double bass / Joonas Riippa, drums
Joonas Haavisto Trio live
Wed 13 Jan at 19 Philly Joe's Jazz Club, Tallinn w/ Tivon Pennicott
Thu 14 Jan at 19 Music Centre (Soiva Akatemia), Helsinki w/ Tivon Pennicott
Fri 15 Jan at 19 Turun Seudun Musiikkiopisto (Flame Jazz), Turku w/ Tivon Pennicott
Sat 16 Jan at 20.30 Koli Jazz Festival, Koli w/ Tivon Pennicott
http://www.joonashaavisto.com/