a Pori Jazz compilation

Here's again a piece of Finnish jazz history. It's not entirely free jazz nor entirely interesting, but still a nice peek into the era.

Jarmo Sermilä, Edward Vesala, Ilkka Willman, Mike Koskinen: The Winners of Pori Jazz Festival Composition Contest (EMI Odeon 5 E 062-34854)

recorded at Finnvox Studios, January 11 & 12 1973

Mike Koskinen, trumpet; Pekka Pöyry, alto and soprano saxophones; Juhani Aaltonen, tenor saxophone (except B1); Seppo Paakkunainen, baritone saxophone (except B1); Mircea Stan, trombone (except A1); Heikki Sarmanto, electric piano, piano (except A2); Ilpo Saastamoinen, guitar (A2, B1); Teppo Hauta-aho, bass; Pekka Sarmanto, bass (B1); Edward Vesala, drums.




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a Po Torch release

A rare duo recording by Paul Lovens and the late Urs Voerkel.

Urs Voerkel & Paul Lovens: Goldberg (Po Torch PTR/JWD 15, 1990)

Urs Voerkel: piano
Paul Lovens: percussion





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Focus on Ganelin Trio

Here are three albums from the Lithuanian free jazz / improv - combo, Ganelin Trio. These are all Soviet releases on Melodiya, from the late 70's to the early 80's.

These are all very interesting records, but not entirely successful. They tend to overreach a bit, and could've benefited from less formal compositions and more open ended and spontaneous improvisations. Nevertheless, they are very enjoyable and worthwhile. Do check them out.

Ganelin Trio: Con Anima (Melodiya 1977)

Vyacheslav Ganelin - piano, basset
Vladimir Chekasin - alto saxophone, clarinet, chalumeau
Vladimir Tarasov - percussion




get it here




Ganelin Trio: Poi Segue ... (Melodiya 1982)

Vyacheslav Ganelin - piano, basset, guitar, bugle, flute
Vladimir Chekasin - saxophones, trombone, flute, percussion, violin
Vladimir Tarasov - percussion, flute





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Ganelin Trio: Semplice (Melodiya 1984)

Vyacheslav Ganelin - keyboard, acoustic piano, basset, Casiotone, hunting horn, percussion
Vladimir Chekasin - alto saxophone, trombone, end blown flute, percussion
Vladimir Tarasov - drums, percussion





get it here


If you like them, plz comment.

Edward Vesala appreciation

1945-1999

Three albums from Edward Vesala

For number one, his first and only solo album from 1973, the beautiful I'm Here.

A great big thanks to a friend who ripped this one!

info:

Edward Vesala: I'm Here (Blue Master SPEL 311)

all compositions and arragements by Edward Vesala

recorded in 1973.

Edward Vesala, drums, percussion, gong, cymbal, cylophone, marimba, vibes, chimes, sitar, clockwork, etc.







The second one is Vesala's American all star band outing, Heavy Life.

info:

Edward Vesala: Heavy Life (Leo Records 009)

Recorded may 1980 at Right Track Studios, New York.

Bob Stewart, tuba; Reggie Workman, bass; Howard Johnson, baritone saxophone; Edward Vesala, drums; Tomasz Stanko, trumpet; J. D. Parran, tenor and soprano saxophone; Chico Freeman, tenor saxophone; James Spaulding, alro saxophone; Joe Daley, tuba.

All compositions by Edward Vesala, except b3 by Tomasz Stanko.





... and for the third and final record, we have a big band disc, Good Luck, Bad Luck, which Vesala made with UMO.

info:

Edward Vesala & UMO: Good Luck, Bad Luck (Leo Records 015)

recorded at finnvox studios december 1983

Tomasz Stanko: trumpet; Juhani Aaltonen: alto and tenor saxophones; Edward Vesala, percussion; UMO: Heikki Haimila, Esko Heikkinen, Olli Högström, Markku Johansson, trumpet; Pentti Lahti, alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flutes; Pepa Päivinen, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, flute; Teemu Salminen, soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet, flute; Unto Haapa-aho, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Juhani Aalto, Petri Juutilainen, Mircea Stan, trombone; Tom Bildo, tuba; Raoul Björkenheim, guitar; Iro Haarla, piano, harp; Pekka Sarmanto, bass; Esko Rosnell, drums; Esko Linnavalli, conductor.

all compositions by Edward Vesala.








That's all folks, for now.

Pierre Favre Quartet

Here's another rarity.

Although I can't myself get really into Favre's playing, it's still a nice disc with some fierce playing. And finally, I managed to take a couple of photos.

Here's the info:

Pierre Favre Quartett: s/t (WERGO WER 80004)

Lineup:

Evan Parker - saxophone
Irene Schweizer - piano
Peter Kowald - bass
Pierre Favre - drums

dload here

Musica Sacra Nova with Wolfgang Dauner & Reinhold Finkbeiner

Well now, back again with another rarity, this time a bit different than the other posts. The record is Musica Sacra Nova II on Schwann, and it could be classified as modern music, new music or whatever; so not the usual bun I serve here, but it does have some free improv parts.

And what's most interesting here is that this is one of the more obscure recordings of Wolfgang Dauner.

Here's more info:

Wolfgang Dauner/Reinhold Finkbeiner: Musica Sacra Nova II (Schwann 602)

A. Dauner: Beobachtungen für Stimmen und Instrumente
B. Finkbeiner: Epiphanie für Sopran-, Alt- und Baritonsolo, drei Schlagzeuggruppen und Orgel

recorded circa 1969

personnel on side A:

Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone
Wolfgang Dauner, prepared piano, electronic instruments
Eberhard Weber, cello, bass
Fred Braceful, percussion
Vocal Ensemble Kassel, conducted by Klaus Martin Siegler

personnel on side B:

Dorothea Förster-Dürchlich, Margret Reuter-Edzard, Eric Stumm, voice
Reinhold Finkbeiner, organ
Percussion Ensemble Kassel, conducted by Klaus Martin Siegler

Get it HERE

Lauri Nykopp: Y

Here's some more Finnish goodies from the 1980's:

The only LP from Lauri Nykopp. A track from this came out on the More Arctic Hysteria collection, so if you liked that, get the whole album here.

Here's the info:

Lauri Nykopp: Y (Nosferatu FNL-1001, 1983)

Lauri Nykopp: alto, soprano, tenor, sopranino saxophones, didgeridoo, contrabass clarinet, saw, breath

Tracks:

Side A: I-III
Side B: IV-VII

Download HERE

oh BTW, my copy is pristine, but it still plays with considerable distortion and crackle. It's probably due to the pressing, but in case you have a copy that plays better, do drop a line.