Jazz Articles about Markku Ounaskari

About Markku Ounaskari

Album Review

Sooäär, Yaralyan, Ounaskari: Zula

by Ian Patterson
February 5, 2024

A group sound is a precious thing. It may take years to develop, or it might spring, fully fledged, from the offing. Either way, it is a calling card and a brand. Tinkering with it too much might risk alienating loyal fans. The trio of Estonian guitarist Jaak Sooäär, Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari and Armenian bassist Ara Yaralyan seems to subscribe to the 'no tinkering' credo. Its third album, Zula is cut from the same cloth as Shooting Star (o-tone ...

Album Review

Sooäär-Yaralyan-Ounaskari: Goodbye July

Read "Goodbye July" reviewed by Ian Patterson

by Ian Patterson
February 7, 2021

Estonian guitarist Jaak Sooäär, Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari and Armenian bassist Ara Yaralyan first joined ranks in 2016, though all three have been active across the Baltic jazz scenes since the 1990s. Sooäär has collaborated with veterans such as Anders Jormin, Han Bennink and Vladimir Tarasov, Ounaskari with Arve Henriksen and Tore Brunborg, while Yaralyan has played with Verneri Pohjola and Vardan Ovsepian, and is a regular in the trio of Kari Ikonen. The trio's debut, Shooting Star (o-tone music, ...