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.




Get it here

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.

Finn Free

Sorry for the silence, I've been occupied by other interests.

To make up for the long absence, I'm this time posting two LP's at the same time. They're both Finnish Free Jazz from the early 1980's and both essential.

The first one is Prana by Juhani Aaltonen, Reggie Workman and Edward Vesala, which is by all accounts one of the (if not THE) shiniest gems of pre-2k Finnish free jazz. Finland has always had a dry, hard soil for this kind of improvised greatness to flourish, so only a handful of records have ever come to existence. This is one of the few.

Here's the info:

Juhani Aaltonen: Prana - Live at Groovy (Leo Records LEO 013)

Juhani Aaltonen: tenor saxophone & flute
Reggie Workman: bass
Edward Vesala: drums

Recorded live at the club Groovy, Helsinki, 2th of August, 1981. Engineered by Jouko Ahera.

Download HERE

The other one I'm posting is the debut leader date of Krakatau and Sound & Fury saxophonist Jone Takamäki. It's free jazz with some "shamanistic" aspects, of which I myself am not so fond of, but nevertheless when things pick up, it's some totally worthwhile stuff. Excellent even. Do check it out.

Here's the info:

Jone Takamäki: s/t (Johanna JHN 2030)

Jone Takamäki: tenor and soprano saxophone, flutes, percussion, voice
Antti Hytti: bass, African thumb piano, Indian harmonium, voice
Samppa Salmi: drums, accordion, voice

Recorded by Tom Vuori , 15. - 20. 12. 1980.

Download HERE


Enjoy and do comment. I'll try to post more soon.

Karelia: Nunnu (Blue Master 1971)

Ok, here we have the best Karelia record.

Gone is (thankfully) the Fairport Conventionish folk-rock-beat of Suomi Pop's and in it's place is a fusion of free jazz, folk, big band groove and all that.

A nice one as such, if a bit hurried and over stretching.



DOWNLOAD HERE


more info:

@discogs

but bare in mind that the info there is somewhat flawed. The disc is no split between Karelia Big Band and Nunnu Group. The same personnel play on both sides. It has just been printed rather confusingly on the cover and labels.

Tomasz Stanko - Edward Vesala Quartet: Live at Remont

here's goes another rare mofo:

Tomasz Stanko - Edward Vesala Quartet: Live at Remont (Helicon 1978)


with Tomasz Szukalski on tenor and Antti Hytti on bass.
one of their best and rarest.

more info:

@discogs

enjoy.

Peter Brötzmann, Juhani Aaltonen, Peter Kowald & Edward Vesala - Hot Lotta

Hot Lotta (Blue Master 1973)

EDIT: This will be reissued 2.3.2011 by Rocket Records, so I'm removing the link. Get your copy here:

http://www.recordshopx.com/rocket/artist/aaltonen_juhani/hot_lotta/#cd-2

Not necessarily as good stuff as the line-up suggests, but still quite the furious racket.

more info:

@discogs.com