The Tampere-based record label is determined to reverse the bad karma of Friday the 13th by releasing not one but two new albums: Unicorn Attack by Njet Njet 9 and Belonging by vocalist Johanna Elina.
Njet Njet 9: Unicorn Attack
After garnering prizes in Esko Linnavalli composition competition in 2011, pianist-composer Ville Kyttälä has assembled an orchestra worthy of his music, now to be introduced on the debut album, Unicorn Attack.
Ville Kyttälä - electric piano, synths
Martti Vesala - trumpet
Mikko Haanpää - trombone
Ville Vannemaa -alto sax & flute
Pekka Seppänen - tenor sax, flute & clarinet
Linda Fredriksson - baritone sax, alto sax, flute
Veikki Virkajärvi - guitar
Heikki Laine - bass
Eeti Nieminen - drums and electronic percussion
Njet Njet 9 is a mini-big band of the 2010s: influences are welcomed far and wide without any knitting of the brows. The debut features rich arrangements that look back and forward at the same time; indeed, to quote the leader-composer Kyttälä’s own words: ”Njet Njet sounds like Zappa and Zawinul playing tennis with Massive Attack at a Swedish summer cottage. Despite the first impression of easiness, each replay reveals new dimensions of this ensemble.
The nine-piece is comprised of top-notch names, including members of such groups as Ricky-Tick Big Band, Teddy’s West Coasters and the Emma-winning trio, Mopo. The ensemble is led by Ville Kyttälä who came second and received the audience award in the Esko Linnavalli composition competition in 2011.
Johanna Elina: Belonging
Vocalist Johanna Elina’s 2011 debut, Our Garden, met with plenty of critical success. The sophomore, Belonging, sees her return bolder and more experimental than ever, but the new material serve the lush expressiveness of her voice as fully as before. The album is mixed by the Sigur Rós producer, Birgir Jon Jonsson.
Johanna Elina established herself some years ago in the music scene of Denmark. She belongs to the vocal group IKI and has collaborated with the likes of Tomasz Stanko. In Finland and Estonia, her sophomore is released by Eclipse Music; while Denmark and the UK will have to wait until the autumn. In the two last-mentioned countries, the disc will be issued on Danish label, DME.
JOHANNA ELINA LIVE
11 May Rytmihäiriöklubi, Helsinki
12 May Tenho Restobar, Helsinki
13 May Flame Jazz, Turku
14 May Philly Joe's, Tallinn
8 Jun Release concert 5E, Copenhagen
5 Jul Analog Bar – Cph Jazz Festival, Copenhagen
Distribution:
Supersounds Music
www.supersounds.fi
www.eclipse-music.net
facebook.com/njetnjet9music
www.johannaelina.com