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Espoo Big Band: Blood Red
ByApart from its Middle Eastern temperament and rhythms, an air of mystery and foreboding enfolds each of the album's half-dozen themes, enhanced at times by unusual special effects, courtesy of Hassinen (who also handled the electronics). Espoo enlisted Verneri Pohjola as trumpet soloist, and it is he who sets the mood on the solemn opener, "I, Satan." Pohjola solos with alto saxophonist Petri Puolitaival and drummer Rami Eskelinen on the aptly named "Istanbul," with guitarist Jarmo Saarvi on the shadowy "Siro Efendi (I am a Corpse)." "I am Called Kara/I, Sekure," the album's longest track at more than fifteen minutes, offers more of the same, heating up midstream for a vigorous solo by tenor Manuel Dunkel before reassuming its chilly persona for even-tempered statements by Pohjola and pianist Lenni-Kalle Taipale.
Pohjola has the stage and spotlight to himself on "Blood Red," whose dark and ethereal temper lightens somewhat for Taipale's soft piano, Hassinen's percussion and Pohjola's crackling solo before the ensemble lends its powerful voice and Taipale adds a few choice notes to help wrap the package. Comparatively speaking, the album's last number, "I am a Gold Coin," is also its flag-waver. Not really, but at least the tempo is martial instead of funereal. Solos are by Pohjola, alto Ari Jokelainen and bassist Vesa Ojaniemi.
Blood Red is for listeners whose ears and minds are attuned to the scholastic and abstract; those who are partial to big-band music that is forceful and swinging should look elsewhere. For what it is, well done.
Track Listing
I, Satan; Istanbul; Siro Efendi (I am a Corpse); I am Called Kara/I, Sekure; Blood Red; I am a Gold Coin.
Personnel
Marzi Nyman
composer / conductorMikko Hassinen
arrangerVerneri Pohjola
trumpetTero Lindberg
trumpetJanne Tuovinen
trumpetTero Saarti
trumpetSami Poyhonen
trumpetAri Jokelainen
saxophone, altoPetri Puolitaival
saxophone, tenorManuel Dunkel
saxophone, tenorJussi Kannaste
saxophoneVille Vannemaa
saxophone, baritonePekka laukkanen
tromboneHeikki Tuhkanen
tromboneJuha Kortehisto
tromboneJuho Viljanen
tromboneLenni-Kalle Taipale
pianoJarmo Saari
guitar, electricVesa Ojaniemi
bassRami Eskelinen
drumsAlbum information
Title: Blood Red | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Galileo Music
Comments
About Marzi Nyman
Instrument: Composer / conductor
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Espoo Big Band
Album Review
Jack Bowers
Blood Red
Galileo Music
Marzi Nyman
Mikko Hassinen
Verneri Pohjola
Petri Puolitaival
Rami Eskelinen
Jarmo Saarvi
Manuel Dunkel
Lenni-Kalle Taipale
Ari Jokelainen
Vesa Ojaniemi