Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tunto: Huvi

6

Tunto: Huvi

By

Sign in to view read count
Tunto: Huvi
Tunto is a band providing what its Finnish name can be translated into -'a sense of feeling.' Although described disparagingly in one reviewer as veering towards New Age, this is music for a variety of moods. This is reflected in the song titles, on this their fourth to album to date, ranging from Stalking Music via Lice Picking Music to Sandcastle Music!

The compositions are also again all by the driving force of the combo (on this album reduced to a duo), the player of various strings and assorted other instruments, Matti Wallenius. Known principally as the guitarist in Finland's pioneer electro-jazz Rinneradio and Lapp singer Wimme Saari, he has been working with reedist Petri Heimonen for 10 years as Tunto, releasing at regular intervals highly textured and thoroughly recorded albums of a similar instrumental type, maybe categorizable as 'mood music.' This latest is the first without bassist and programmer Jyri Terämaa, and is recognisable as a lighter, more polyrhythmic product.

Handling electric bass himself, while Heimonen plays clarinets (incuding bass) and flutes, Wallenius has a roster of guests adding vocals, rhythms, double bass, yodelling and even 'man speaking Arabic.' As a whole, however, the album offers a range of sonorities dominated by the acoustic interplay between plucked strings and reeds. Some mercurial selections emerge from the list, like Giraffe Music, where the mix of complex rhythms and simple beats and melodies combine in an ever-evolving groove.

Not all tracks are as hypnotic, indeed some are deliberately humorous and light; try King Kong Music, which might even work as a soundtrack to the 1933 classic film. As a whole the album works as more than background music, creeping unrecognised to the foreground of consciousness especially when the various human voices are featured. Its Finnish title Huvi suggests that it is just 'amusement' or 'fun,' but there is definitely more to it than just that!

Track Listing

Monkey Music; Balloon Music; Midnight Music; Stalking Music; Camel Riding Music; Couscous Music; Lice Picking Music; Giraffe Music; King Kong Music; Sandcastle Music.

Personnel

Tunto
 

Matti Wallenius: baglama, balalaika, charango, clay whistle, electric bass, guitars & baritone guitar, keyboards, mandolin, percussion, programming, ukulele & baritone ukulele; Petri Heimonen: clarinet, bass clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, concert & bass flute, tenor sax, Satu Lankinen female voice; Petri Reinikka: snare drum, rimshots, brushes, cymbal; enric Duncker snare drum, brushes, percussion; Tero Siitonen: double bass; Rudi Merz: swiss yodeling; Ahmed Abou Elseoud: man speaking Arabic.

Album information

Title: Huvi | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Aani Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.