The nominees for the 2023 Emma Awards have been announced. The nominees for the Best Jazz Album category are Aki Rissanen (Hyperreal, Edition Records), Freezer (Icebreaker, Flame Jazz Records), Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease (The Mortal Lease, Flame Jazz Records), Selma Savolainen (Horror Vacui, Whirlwind Recordings), and Virta (Horros, Svart Records).
The Emma Gala will be held at Espoo Metro Arena on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Ticket sales for the event are ongoing.
Aki Rissanen - Hyperreal (Edition Records)
Aki Rissanen, one of the most internationally recognized Finnish jazz artists, presents his sixth album Hyperreal on the British Edition Records label. Collaborating with Swedish-Turkish drummer Robert Ikiz and longtime partner trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, the album explores the themes of change and the importance of awareness, adaptation, and letting go. Hyperreal is also Finland's first jazz album released in Dolby Atmos and Apple Spatial formats.
Freezer - Icebreaker (Flame Jazz Records)
The debut album Icebreaker by the internationally acclaimed woodwind wizard Max Zenger and jazz lizard Fredator takes listeners on a journey from swinging ice floes through permafrost to indulging in bad ice cream. Despite the icy atmosphere, the songs, rooted in frozen moods, don't leave the listener cold. Addressing timely topics like peace and climate change, Freezer's music blends jazz traditions with futuristic soundscapes in an imaginative way.
Josefiina Vannesluoma & Mortal Lease - The Mortal Lease (Flame Jazz Records)
Singer and composer Josefiina Vannesluoma, along with her Mortal Lease band, transforms hundred-year-old poems into sophisticated jazz expressions on their debut album The Mortal Lease. Known for her innovative musical language and beautiful tone, Vannesluoma has been recognized in Teosto Awards and Emma nominations. The album, featuring young talents like pianist Mikael Myrskog, double bassist Nathan Francis, and drummer Ville Luukkonen, explores the themes of mortality, letting go, and the search for meaning.
Selma Savolainen - Horror Vacui (Whirlwind Recordings)
Selma Savolainen's debut solo album Horror Vacui, released by the prestigious British label Whirlwind Recordings, showcases her fearless approach to music. Combining modern jazz with influences from alternative singer-songwriter styles, Savolainen's English-language compositions feature a high-caliber ensemble of Finnish jazz musicians. The album explores the fear of emptiness, abandonment, and unexpected discoveries, weaving together influences from various musical genres into the band's rooted storytelling.
Virta - Horros (Svart Records)
Comprising Erik Fräki, Antti Hevosmaa and Heikki Selamo, VIRTA is known for its immersive performances and unique sound palette that defies easy categorization. Their album Horros, released in October 2023, reflects the metamorphosis the Helsinki-based trio has undergone in recent years. VIRTA's distinctive blend of ambient electronic music, Nordic jazz traditions, post-rock, and psychedelia has earned them praise and a reputation as a trailblazing force in their generation.