The Espoo Big Band

The Espoo Big Band Featuring Trilok Gurtu: Neandertal Grooves

by Jack Bowers
March 13, 2004

The Espoo Big Band, a bellwether of the Finnish jazz scene for more than three decades, is known for its adventurous nature, and Neandertal Grooves, which showcases the music of guitarist/composer Jarmo Saari and the talents of master percussionist Trilok Gurtu, does nothing to undermine that enterprising spirit.

As “neandertal” (Neanderthal) has become rather a synonym for “primitive” or even “uncivilized,” one might expect the same from Saari and the EBB, but that’s hardly the case, even though ...

Espoo Big Band: Live in Australia / Plays Carla Bley

by Jack Bowers
April 1, 1999

Here are three discs (more like two and one–half, actually) by Finland’s foremost big band, Espoo, one recorded in 1993 with guest conductor Carla Bley, the others last year during an Australian tour. Also sitting in on the earlier session is the well–known American bassist Steve Swallow. On the Jazz continuum, Espoo is definitely in the avant–garde camp. Its music should carry a PG–17 rating; that is to say, for adults only. The charts are complex and multi–layered, and require ...