Jazz Articles about Ahava

Ahava: Ahava

by Matthew Wuethrich
June 25, 2002

When jazz vocalists drew from folk blues and popular song they found abundant and lively inspiration; recently it seems they are returning only to find a dry well. Many contemporary vocalists adhere so closely to the accepted repertoire and moods that they have taken the life out of the tradition. Yet Finland's Ahava, featuring vocalist Mia Simanainen, have gone searching elsewhere for their sources and what they have found is fertile ground: Scandinavian folk song and poetry. On their self-titled ...