Articles by Anthony Shaw
Jussi Reijonen At Espoo Cultural Center
by Anthony Shaw
Jussi Reijonen Espoo Cultural Center Espoo, FinlandFebruary 24, 2023 Sometimes the best of things come unexpectedly, but considering the one-year anniversary on this date that is certainly not always true. However this gig in the Finnish capital region's Espoo public arts center, including the local library, music school auditorium and cosy basement stage, was an unintended blessing, accompanying a friend and with zero knowledge of this New York-based Finnish artist. Truth to ...
read moreEmma Salokoski with Ilmiliekki: Joulu Joulu Jul
by Anthony Shaw
If you are looking for a novel way of approaching the December 2022 festive season, musically speaking, and are not deterred by a mixture of Nordic languages, then this album may appeal. The songs are sung in Swedish and Finnish, and without any accompanying lyric sheet an English speaker might do well to search for lyrics online. Keen observers of the Nordic jazz scene will know the band behind the album from its prominence in the mid 2000s, following victory ...
read moreBlaser Ducret Bruun Trio at Hakasalmen Huvila
by Anthony Shaw
Blaser Ducret Bruun Trio Hakasalmen Huvila Finnish Tour Helsinki November 14, 2022 Samuel Blaser has a glittering past, with glowing reviews of his considerable career in journals from around the globe. The performance of his trio in this modest-but-elegant salon a stone's throw from Helsinki's main railway station, alongside his old accomplices Marc Ducret on guitar and Peter Braun on drums did nothing if not bolster the virtuoso reputation he has garnered.
read moreRaoul Björkenheim and eCsTaSy at Sello Hall in Espoo
by Anthony Shaw
Raoul Björkenheim and eCsTaSy with Juhani Aaltonen Sello Hall Espoo, Finland March 25, 2022 When guitarist Raoul Björkenheim and the rest of the all-Finnish eCsTaSy took the stage at the local arts venue in Espoo, the audience were still streaming into the the hall after the intermission--such is the band's enthusiasm to get out there and play. With two years since their previous public performance, there may have been some nerves ...
read moreNaissam Jalal - The Quest of the Invisible at Savoy Theater in Helsinki
by Anthony Shaw
Naissam Jalal -The Quest of the Invisible Savoy Theater Helsinki, Finland February 22, 2022 Naissam Jalal was everything this audience needed on a very snowy February evening in downtown Helsinki. Not only had the concert already been postponed for two years, but it happened to coincide with the second major snowstorm in as many weeks, dumping 15 inches of snow across the city, bringing this normally very snow-savvy city near to gridlock.
read moreY-Otis at Raahe's Festival by the Beach
by Anthony Shaw
Y-Otis with Otis Sandsjö Ruiskuhuone Stage Jazz on the Beach Raahe, Finland July 31,2021 Many events haven't happened these last two summer seasons, and Otis Sandsjö's participation in the 36th Raahe Jazz on the Beach almost didn't happen. But, like many things that aren't expected to materialize, this particular show was perhaps all the more appreciated. You may not know how remote his nineteenth century town on the eastern coast of the Gulf ...
read moreDecember jazz in Helsinki
by Anthony Shaw
Daniel Erdmann's Velvet Revolution and others Hietsun Paviljonki and various venues On-line concerts Helsinki, Finland December 1-2, 2020 Two evenings of live youthful jazz events opened December's musical fare at a time of sparse availability of live concerts around the globe: Daniel Erdmann's Velvet Revolution, and the We-Jazz sponsored Nordic Jazz Comets. Both nights featured masterly musicianship and challenging compositions. The reality of the first evening's streamed concert was what you ...
read moreHvalfugl: Øjeblikke Vi Husker
by Anthony Shaw
There's no denying that this Danish trio plays a very mellow mood. Based around the interplay of Jeppe Lavsen's mildly electrified, echoing guitar and Jonathan Fjord Bredholt's piano, this album continues the style that Hvalfugl captured on earlier albums. But while the melodies move gently forward there are small surprises lurking along the way. These include the crisp, borderline aggressive chords of the piano entering on “Fractal," and the abrupt electronic cut-off of “Under Viadukten." And the band are ...
read moreSylvain Rifflet: Troubadours
by Anthony Shaw
Sylvain Rifflet has been playing adventurous, somewhat rock-related jazz for since around 2000, and for much of the time has done so alongside a trumpeter. His emergence on the international scene in the first decade of this century was with the French quintet Rockingchair, where his co-leader was contemporary French trumpeter, Arielle Besson. They were awarded a 'Django d'Or' medal for their first album and subsequent releases have been well received. On the 2019 album Troubadour, Rifflet is ...
read moreGong gave me jazz ears - an investigation into the recent evolution of Gong
by Anthony Shaw
Introducing the band Gong, or as they are frequently known on the internet the Gong-band, is somewhat similar to introducing a primary color to a blind person. The more words used, the less clear the idea. Suffice it to say that a band which has existed for over 50 years, has included well over 50 musicians from 15 or so different countries, and been classified under almost as many genres, is tricky to pin down. In fact to quote their ...
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