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Tuomo J. Autio: Groovy Moments & Melodies
ByExcept, that is, in Finland where jazz guitarist Tuomo J. Autio has joined forces with The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band With Strings to spring Groovy Moments & Melodies on an unsuspecting worlda rather good, if somewhat idiosyncratic album.
Autio plays like his idol. Wes Montgomery. Managing to do this, standing up in front of the big band can be no easy task, but he gives a virtuosic demonstration of Montgomery's complex single note/octave/block chord approach.
He tips his hat to the master via Montgomery compositions "Bumpin'" and "Boss City," not to mention Lennon and McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby," for which Montgomery was nominated for a Grammy in 1968, and "Chim Chim Cheree," from Mary Poppins (1964), featured on the 1966 album Goin' Out Of My Head (Verve), which launched Montgomery's pop career.
There are also three of the better songs from Finnish composer and conductor Rauno Lehtinen, who died in 2006. He is best known internationally for his dire 1960s hit "Letkis," based on a Finnish folk dance, and the still more abysmal "Tom-tom-tom." The closer, "On Hetki," is perhaps the best Lehtinen number: a big ballad, with Autio fighting off an at times rather plodding string accompaniment.
Listening to this album is like passing through a time warp to the days when jazz did not feel it had to always be cutting edge and could now and again simply relax and be unselfconsciously, unpretentiously groovy.
Track Listing
Muistan Kesan; Eleanor Rigby; This Guy's In Love With You; Bumpin'; Boss City; Toiset Meistä; Chim Chim Cheree; Golden Earrings; Besame Mucho; On Hetki.
Personnel
Tuomo J. Autio
guitar, electricTuomo J. Autio, guitar; The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band With Strings, conducted by Antti Rissanen.
Album information
Title: Groovy Moments & Melodies | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Prophone Records
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About Tuomo J. Autio
Instrument: Guitar, electric
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