The inter-continental jazz group NYConnection issues their sophomore album, “Urban Griot”, on 2 May 2014. This spring the band will also return to the stage, performing their new material live in Estonia and on tour in Finland.
NYConnection is a quartet, formed by three top-notch Finnish jazz musicians and the internationally acknowledged Israeli pianist, Roy Assaf. On their new album, the group has combined traditional elements of jazz, such as harmonic patterns and sophisticated swing, with a melodicism borrowed from the sonic realm of folk music. As to the compositional method, the group has kept the tradition of jazz music constantly on their mind, while taking a more narrative approach; namely, by drawing from stories and songs. The group has been inspired especially by Griots, West-African singers, poets, and storytellers, famed for their skill of bringing old tales to life in the now. Thus it is no surprise that improvisation has a key role in these jazz Griots’ music and that the pieces are based on the group’s shared experiences and stories.
The new compositions leave plenty of room for each player’s improvisation and free interaction with the other band members. At times, this leads into exciting musical role play. Jussi Kannaste accompanies on his saxophone like a pianist, while pianist Assaf veers away from traditional comping, engaging instead in a melodic and rhythmic dialogue with drummer Jaska Lukkarinen. Antti Lötjönen’s bass provides the vital backbone. The band exploits fully all the instrumental combinations that a quartet line-up can offer, which makes the new album brim with bold and experimental expression in solo, duo, trio and quartet forms.
As the name suggests, the story behind NYConnection takes us to New York, since it was there that Jaska Lukkarinen and Roy Assaf first met in 2007. Their debut album, “Party of Four”, came out on Lukkarinen’s Jaskaa label in spring 2012. The pair’s friendship acts as the thread of life for NYConnection, both on and off stage.
The release is available for listening on Soundcloud.com:
https://soundcloud.com/nyconnection
Interview and making of: http://www.nyconnection.net/videos/
Shows:
Turku Flame Jazz, Turku / pe 2.5.
Jazz Kiinnostaa, Radio Helsinki, 98.5 MHz / su 4.5.
Old Train Station, Porvoo / su 4.5.
Philly Joe's Jazz Club, Tallinna / ma 5.5.
Koko Jazz Club, Helsinki / ti 6.5.
Interviews:
Creatika Agancy
press@creatika.fi / 044 5661903 / 040 537 8407