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Jouni Jarvela

Finnish saxophonist and composer Jouni Järvelä has released his second CD as a leader. Following the highly-acclaimed debut record Lento (1999), the new outstanding record by the Jouni Järvelä Group is called A Grand Day Out (Live). The live recording was made during the band's tour of Finland in April 2005.

A Grand Day Out (Live) features, along with Jouni Järvelä's magnificent playing on soprano, alto, and the rare C-melody saxophones, the most prominent of Finnish musical talents: Samuli Mikkonen on piano and synthesizers, Marzi Nyman on guitars and Lasse Lindgren on electric bass and fretless acoustic bass guitar. The amazing interaction of the group is accented by the preeminent leading European drummer, Norwegian Audun Kleive.

The compositions on the record are for most part by Järvelä and Mikkonen. This record is a fantastic chance to get to witness, in unedited live performance, the wide variety of Jouni Järvelä Group's highly personal compositions, soaring improvisations and open communication, with moods ranging from rough to fragile.

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Album Review

The Jouni Jarvela Group: A Grand Day Out

Read "A Grand Day Out" reviewed by Anthony Shaw


The Jouni Järvelä Group is rather exceptional in that over half of the material is written by band members other than its saxophonist/leader. Within the same piece the music can swing from a punctuated melodic Pink Floydian wash to a Wes Montgomerian excursion, and back via a Zappa-style freeform multilogue. That said, Järvelä is a player with a strong preference for understatement.

Featuring names well-established on the Finnish modern music scene, this second album contains a mix of live tracks ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Last Dance

Neuklang Records
2022

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A Grand Day Out

Unknown label
2007

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