The sophomore, Orient Express, comes out on the Tampere-based record label, Eclipse Music.
Merging world styles with the Scandinavian jazz tradition, Kokko Quartet’s new album, Orient Express, takes up where the debut, Like A River, left off in 2013. On Orient Express, the ensemble weaves stories about today and times past; travelling through their homey Scandinavia all the way to the faraway India. Imagine a camel caravan wander through the desert while the Orient Express honks its two-note horn in the dead of the tropical night. But like their name “Kokko” suggests, the myths and legends of the Finnish national epic, Kalevala, are present, too: in Kokko Quartet's music, one can hear the beat of blacksmith Ilmarinen’s hammer and the sound of the lakes under the command of Vellamo, the goddess of water.
Kokko Quartet
Kaisa Siirala, saxophones, flutes
Johanna Pitkänen, piano, keys
Timo Tuppurainen, bass
Risto Takala, drums
Kokko Quartet is a Helsinki-based jazz ensemble. While building on the Scandinavian jazz sound, they season it with subtle Indian, Arabic and Cuban influences; indeed, the members share an interest in free expression, jazz and world music. Their music is penned by pianist Johanna Pitkänen, saxophonist Kaisa Siirala and bassist Timo Tuppurainen. The debut album Like A River was released in March 2013 to critical acclaim in both Finnish and international media. In the same year, they performed at the significant showcase event Jazzahead! in Bremen, Germany. Kokko Quartet have played at several big jazz festivals, including the Czech Bohemia Jazz Fest and the Finnish Pori Jazz Festival. In December 2015 they went on an Australian tour.
KOKKO QUARTET LIVE:
Kokko Quartet on album launch tour
14 Aug 2016 Flow Festival, Helsinki
17 Aug 2016 Juttutupa, Rytmihäiriöklubi, Helsinki
16 Sep 2016 Ravintola Kairo, Kotka
20 Sep 2016 JazzAnti, Ravintola Laulumiehet, Helsinki
15 Dec 2016 Ylioppilasteatteri, Tampere
http://www.kokkoquartet.com/
Photo by Alisa Javits.