Comments
'Bro. Catching up and just listened to you CD 'Listen'. Your sound is KILLING!!! Great work!' Dave Liebman, July 2011
.."in closing, I would rank Mr. Pekka Pylkkanen, in the top five percent of musician/educators I have encountered throughout my twenty plus years of performing and teaching." Dr. Michael J. Rossi, Professor, Jazz Artist, University of Cape Town
Reviews
Some excerpts from various reviews around the world:
". Pekka send me a copy of his latest recording, and what I
hear is a mature player who has truly come up with a compelling
sound, both as a composer and instrumentalist. The music on this
cd is simply great, and I am very happy to see and hear that Pekka
has grown into the musician that he is today. He’s created
compositions with an elegant complexity that showcases his
saxophone playing in a unique and personal way. "
Excerpt from liner notes for 'Listen!' by Bob Mintzer, December 2008
”Pylkkänen is among the jazz elite in his native Finland. A stalwart member of
the fabled UMO Jazz Orchestra, Pylkkanen shows his crafty wares on his
solo debut for Naxos Jazz.On Pekka’s Tube Factory, the multi-reedman
displays a fine compositional åen, expressive, accomplished technical skilss
and a keen ear for arranging.” - Glenn Astarita www.allaboutjazz.com- July 1999
”Neben seinen ausgezeichneten solistischen Leistungen auf verschiedenen
Holzblasinstrumenten, zeigt sich Pekka
Pylkkänen auch als versierter Komponist, der sich fur alle Titel verantwortlich
zeigt.” - JazzLive 125/99
”Taking time off as a member of the UMO Jazz Orchestra, Pekka Pylkkänen
makes his leader debut with a sleek ride.” - C.Michael Baileywww.
allaboutjazz.com. July 1999
” The Finnish wind specialist Pylkkänen leads a tight sextet trough moody,
atmospheric pieces that explore with a purpose...As accomplished a group of
musicians as these are, the human element is always present- a touchstone on
the mournful but beautiful ”Lumi” and a vivid theme in the intertwined layers
of The Picture of Dorian Gray, an evocative take on the beuty and sadness of
twisted desire.” - Hilarie S.Grey- JazzTimes- May 2002
He certainly maintains a very individual and always interesting sound.” - John
Henry-Audiophile Audition - March 2002
”Pekka Pylkkänen is back with another notable collection of razor sharp
contemporary jazz..
Pylkkänen, once again, blows through his variety of winds on this collection
of mostly his originals.” - C.Michael Bailey - www. allaboutjazz.com
” Kein Wayne Shorter, kein Jaco Pastorius, kein Joe Zavinul spielen hier
ausgelassen (und glucklicherweise auch keine, die sich dafur halten), hier
musiziert eine ferfekt harmonierende Band, die ein wenig nordische
Schwermut in die Kompositionen bringt, ohne diese damit völlig zu
uberfrachten: Besonders hervorzuheben sind das virtuos- gewitzte ”Tom Cat”,
das hypnotische ”The Picture Of Dorian Gray” und das hinreissend
melancolische ”Black Pearl” - der Schallplattenman Sagt, 3.12.2001
". Pekka send me a copy of his latest recording, and what I
hear is a mature player who has truly come up with a compelling
sound, both as a composer and instrumentalist. The music on this
cd is simply great, and I am very happy to see and hear that Pekka
has grown into the musician that he is today. He’s created
compositions with an elegant complexity that showcases his
saxophone playing in a unique and personal way. "
Excerpt from liner notes for 'Listen!' by Bob Mintzer, December 2008
”Pylkkänen is among the jazz elite in his native Finland. A stalwart member of
the fabled UMO Jazz Orchestra, Pylkkanen shows his crafty wares on his
solo debut for Naxos Jazz.On Pekka’s Tube Factory, the multi-reedman
displays a fine compositional åen, expressive, accomplished technical skilss
and a keen ear for arranging.” - Glenn Astarita www.allaboutjazz.com- July 1999
”Neben seinen ausgezeichneten solistischen Leistungen auf verschiedenen
Holzblasinstrumenten, zeigt sich Pekka
Pylkkänen auch als versierter Komponist, der sich fur alle Titel verantwortlich
zeigt.” - JazzLive 125/99
”Taking time off as a member of the UMO Jazz Orchestra, Pekka Pylkkänen
makes his leader debut with a sleek ride.” - C.Michael Baileywww.
allaboutjazz.com. July 1999
” The Finnish wind specialist Pylkkänen leads a tight sextet trough moody,
atmospheric pieces that explore with a purpose...As accomplished a group of
musicians as these are, the human element is always present- a touchstone on
the mournful but beautiful ”Lumi” and a vivid theme in the intertwined layers
of The Picture of Dorian Gray, an evocative take on the beuty and sadness of
twisted desire.” - Hilarie S.Grey- JazzTimes- May 2002
He certainly maintains a very individual and always interesting sound.” - John
Henry-Audiophile Audition - March 2002
”Pekka Pylkkänen is back with another notable collection of razor sharp
contemporary jazz..
Pylkkänen, once again, blows through his variety of winds on this collection
of mostly his originals.” - C.Michael Bailey - www. allaboutjazz.com
” Kein Wayne Shorter, kein Jaco Pastorius, kein Joe Zavinul spielen hier
ausgelassen (und glucklicherweise auch keine, die sich dafur halten), hier
musiziert eine ferfekt harmonierende Band, die ein wenig nordische
Schwermut in die Kompositionen bringt, ohne diese damit völlig zu
uberfrachten: Besonders hervorzuheben sind das virtuos- gewitzte ”Tom Cat”,
das hypnotische ”The Picture Of Dorian Gray” und das hinreissend
melancolische ”Black Pearl” - der Schallplattenman Sagt, 3.12.2001
The Walker's - Japanese magazine- review on 'Listen!' October 2011 link here: http://www.facebook.com/TheWalkers27?sk=wall&filter=2
Pekka Pylkkanen (sax) ~ new album!
The Walker's
Pekka Pylkkanen Tube Factory "Listen! "
ペッカ・ピルカネン・チューブ・ファクトリー 『リッスン！』
フィンランド・ジャズ・シーンをリードするサックス・プレイヤー＝ペッカ・ピルカネンの最新アルバム！
1964年生まれ。10代からプロとしての活動を始め、渡米後にデイヴ・リーブマンやディック・オーツに師事。ヨーロッパに戻ってからは目覚ましい活躍を続け、自己のバンド“チューブ・ファクトリー”を率いて放った本作が最新アルバム。
サックスだけでなく、フルート、クラリネットにピアノもこなすペッカだが、この最新作でもアルト・サックスとソプラノ・サックスで魅力的なサウンドを披露している。全7曲ペッカのオリジナルで、オープニングはヒップ＆スインギーで壮快な『Rhythm Powder』。ラテンを取り入れ、ペッカがペルーのリマで会った特別な人に捧げた「Senor Alejandro」、映画『スター・ウォーズ』のヨーダをテーマにした「Master Yoda」等、楽曲の良さも際立つ。ペッカ自身の子供たち～世界中の子供たちを思い書き上げたという「Small Toes」も素敵な曲だ。本作のライナーにはボブ・ミンツァーがコメントを添えているが、北欧から届けられた素晴らしい作品に仕上がっている。
尚、今年11月に来日公演が決定しているというペッカ・ピルカネン。本作からナンバーも楽しみ。乞う、ご期待！
＜曲目＞
1. Rhythm Powder
2. Escaping the Andes
3. Senor Alejandro
4. Old C
5. Master Yoda
6. Small Toes
7. Cry For Africa
＜パーソネル＞
Pekka Pylkkanen （as, ss）
Samuli Mikkonen (p, key)
Pekka Luukka (g)
Ville Huolman (b)
Jaska Lukkarinen (ds)
Pekka Pylkkanenのオフィシャル・ウェブ・サイト
www.pekkasmusic.com
Pekka Pylkkanenのmyspace（『Listen!』の試聴ができます！）
www.myspace.com/pekkasmusic
写真提供：Pekka Pylkkanen
Pekka Pylkkanen (sax) ~ new album!
The Walker's
Pekka Pylkkanen Tube Factory "Listen! "
ペッカ・ピルカネン・チューブ・ファクトリー 『リッスン！』
フィンランド・ジャズ・シーンをリードするサックス・プレイヤー＝ペッカ・ピルカネンの最新アルバム！
1964年生まれ。10代からプロとしての活動を始め、渡米後にデイヴ・リーブマンやディック・オーツに師事。ヨーロッパに戻ってからは目覚ましい活躍を続け、自己のバンド“チューブ・ファクトリー”を率いて放った本作が最新アルバム。
サックスだけでなく、フルート、クラリネットにピアノもこなすペッカだが、この最新作でもアルト・サックスとソプラノ・サックスで魅力的なサウンドを披露している。全7曲ペッカのオリジナルで、オープニングはヒップ＆スインギーで壮快な『Rhythm Powder』。ラテンを取り入れ、ペッカがペルーのリマで会った特別な人に捧げた「Senor Alejandro」、映画『スター・ウォーズ』のヨーダをテーマにした「Master Yoda」等、楽曲の良さも際立つ。ペッカ自身の子供たち～世界中の子供たちを思い書き上げたという「Small Toes」も素敵な曲だ。本作のライナーにはボブ・ミンツァーがコメントを添えているが、北欧から届けられた素晴らしい作品に仕上がっている。
尚、今年11月に来日公演が決定しているというペッカ・ピルカネン。本作からナンバーも楽しみ。乞う、ご期待！
＜曲目＞
1. Rhythm Powder
2. Escaping the Andes
3. Senor Alejandro
4. Old C
5. Master Yoda
6. Small Toes
7. Cry For Africa
＜パーソネル＞
Pekka Pylkkanen （as, ss）
Samuli Mikkonen (p, key)
Pekka Luukka (g)
Ville Huolman (b)
Jaska Lukkarinen (ds)
Pekka Pylkkanenのオフィシャル・ウェブ・サイト
www.pekkasmusic.com
Pekka Pylkkanenのmyspace（『Listen!』の試聴ができます！）
www.myspace.com/pekkasmusic
写真提供：Pekka Pylkkanen
LInk for SuomiJazz (FinnJazz) review on 'Listen!' in Finnish: Pylkkänen Pekka: Listen!
Interviews
The Tokyo Jazz Site interview by James Catchpole in 2015:
1. Where are you from and how did you first get into jazz/music?
I’m from Helsinki, Finland. I grew up in the suburbs of Helsinki, there was no musicians in the family, but we had some records of New Orleans jazz and Latin -American music, and musical soundtracks, such as Fiddler on the Roof, plus some classic 78’s – with music of Gene Grupa, Benny Goodman etc. I think listening to music became my hobby, at around 4 years old. Soon I wanted to play also myself, and there was a guy living next to our house (or actually, there was two of them), who played tenor sax and clarinet. Both were also members of a big band that was experimenting with jazz-rock fusion, and which became very famous. The leader of that group, Mr. Klaus Järvinen, alto sax and clarinetist, who was in charge of the music program in the Oulunkylä Secondary and High School, named this band as ‘OYK Brass Band’- the name that lasted at least 5 ‘generations’ of this big band. Klaus Järvinen also started the first jazz/pop (or rock in those days) music academy in Finland, called Oulunkylä Pop and Jazz Institute- that had their premises at this very same school already mentioned.
As per myself, I did finally get my parents convinced to take up an instrument, but all the advisors told them, that I should start on the piano, which didn’t prove to be that fruitful, after all. I was 6 years old at that point, and didn’t really like the teacher that much, a classical pianist who was mostly concerned in teaching reading music. It wasn’t fun, and due to that, and the fact that I had to attend an afternoon/evening- school, after our won school burned down, made me to give up those lessons.
2. Why did you choose the sax and who were your first influences?
In the end it could be because of this guy in the neighbor, and their band, since we didn’t have much saxophone records at home, if I remember right.
But there was lots of clarinet and trumpet recordings anyway. I had this dream of playing first clarinet, and then switching to saxophone (which was the goal from the beginning, but everybody told that ‘you have to start with clarinet’. Bulls. J
Anyways, I got my first clarinet a bit before turning 10, and a couple of years later I got an alto, not own, but a Yamaha from the school’s instrument ‘library’. There was actually quite a few Mark VI’s and similar, really fantastic instruments there.
My first influences: hmmm. I loved the stuff that big band was playing (the rock-influenced big band sound, as well as Basie, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and similar bands. I’m not sure if I had a real idol on the saxophone at that point, I just loved all that music. At that point I was already playing in that same band *OYK Brass Band’- I guess in the second/third generation- and finally in the fourth generation. My teacher wanted me to listen to Johnny Hodges and Basie lead altoists (I didn’t know the name Marshall Royal at that time), and I liked that, but wasn’t totally overwhelmed by it.
I guess the biggest impact were the recordings I had listened to when younger: Pete Fountain and Al Hirt. I could listen to that stuff all day long..
Later on I started taking classes at that already-mentioned Oulunkylä Pop/Jazz Institute and was playing in many different groups simultaneously. That school became finally the Pop and Jazz Conservatory - and part of Metropolia University- it provided also a degree-based education in jazz and pop music (Bachelor Degree) . As far as I can remember, that course started at the same time as the Sibelius- Academy’s Jazz Department (that provided Master’s and nowadays also Doctoral Degrees).
3. How did you first come to Japan and what were your impressions of the jazz scene here?
Well, I have always had an interest in Japan, but hadn’t had an opportunity to perform there, although had been playing tours in China with my own group (the first one in 1999, at the Beijing Music Festival), and had toured as part of a big band in Australia and Thailand etc.
Then – finally in the end of 2006 I had the chance to bring my group to Tokyo for a few days, to finish off our 4-week-long tour in China. I had a promoter who arranged that, along with Naxos Japan (as far as I can tell): we played two nights at Pit Inn, and it was pretty fantastic, have to admit. But also realized really soon how tough the business side of performing in Japan was. We actually also recorded those nights, the pianist Kenichiro Shinzawa was doing the recording with an engineer. For some reason I didn’t approve the takes – or something- cannot really remember, and it hasn’t been released.
But my impressions of Japan- I was really excited! I loved pretty much everything here. I guess I became some sort of Japan-freak! Pity that I still cannot speak the language, save for some phrases and so..
The music scene in Japan still didn’t open up very easily for me. I couldn’t just travel to Japan to find out things by myself, so mostly I just surfed the internet and actually did get some sort of picture of the club scene. I did put a lot of effort to manage a ‘real’ Japan tour with different cities and many clubs, and I guess I learned along the way a lot.
The music scene is lively, of course, but during these last 9-10 years I have been in close contact with Japanese and the clubs, festivals, etc, I have noticed some sort of – well- maybe deterioration is a bit harsh word – but still- in the quality of music, at least in some places. It’s not only been seen as commercialization, partly that too, but as a bit more not-so-interesting projects bathing in the lights, if you know what I mean..
Many club owners tell me that the economically hard times have hit the music scene the most, and it probably is the reason, at least partly.
4.What are your current and upcoming projects?
I have several projects for the moment, some are more active than the others, but I’m trying to find at least some concerts/tours or recordings for each, every now and then.
Here’s some:
*Global Unit – with Ronan Guilfoyle, Carlos Ezequiel and Greg Burk. We did a recording two years ago and I should get it released soon now. We also toured in Asia- also Japan- and a some tours in Europe.
5. Three favorite albums
That’s a hard one!! Ouch.. There is too many, really! But let’s put it this way:
1. Where are you from and how did you first get into jazz/music?
I’m from Helsinki, Finland. I grew up in the suburbs of Helsinki, there was no musicians in the family, but we had some records of New Orleans jazz and Latin -American music, and musical soundtracks, such as Fiddler on the Roof, plus some classic 78’s – with music of Gene Grupa, Benny Goodman etc. I think listening to music became my hobby, at around 4 years old. Soon I wanted to play also myself, and there was a guy living next to our house (or actually, there was two of them), who played tenor sax and clarinet. Both were also members of a big band that was experimenting with jazz-rock fusion, and which became very famous. The leader of that group, Mr. Klaus Järvinen, alto sax and clarinetist, who was in charge of the music program in the Oulunkylä Secondary and High School, named this band as ‘OYK Brass Band’- the name that lasted at least 5 ‘generations’ of this big band. Klaus Järvinen also started the first jazz/pop (or rock in those days) music academy in Finland, called Oulunkylä Pop and Jazz Institute- that had their premises at this very same school already mentioned.
As per myself, I did finally get my parents convinced to take up an instrument, but all the advisors told them, that I should start on the piano, which didn’t prove to be that fruitful, after all. I was 6 years old at that point, and didn’t really like the teacher that much, a classical pianist who was mostly concerned in teaching reading music. It wasn’t fun, and due to that, and the fact that I had to attend an afternoon/evening- school, after our won school burned down, made me to give up those lessons.
2. Why did you choose the sax and who were your first influences?
In the end it could be because of this guy in the neighbor, and their band, since we didn’t have much saxophone records at home, if I remember right.
But there was lots of clarinet and trumpet recordings anyway. I had this dream of playing first clarinet, and then switching to saxophone (which was the goal from the beginning, but everybody told that ‘you have to start with clarinet’. Bulls. J
Anyways, I got my first clarinet a bit before turning 10, and a couple of years later I got an alto, not own, but a Yamaha from the school’s instrument ‘library’. There was actually quite a few Mark VI’s and similar, really fantastic instruments there.
My first influences: hmmm. I loved the stuff that big band was playing (the rock-influenced big band sound, as well as Basie, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw and similar bands. I’m not sure if I had a real idol on the saxophone at that point, I just loved all that music. At that point I was already playing in that same band *OYK Brass Band’- I guess in the second/third generation- and finally in the fourth generation. My teacher wanted me to listen to Johnny Hodges and Basie lead altoists (I didn’t know the name Marshall Royal at that time), and I liked that, but wasn’t totally overwhelmed by it.
I guess the biggest impact were the recordings I had listened to when younger: Pete Fountain and Al Hirt. I could listen to that stuff all day long..
Later on I started taking classes at that already-mentioned Oulunkylä Pop/Jazz Institute and was playing in many different groups simultaneously. That school became finally the Pop and Jazz Conservatory - and part of Metropolia University- it provided also a degree-based education in jazz and pop music (Bachelor Degree) . As far as I can remember, that course started at the same time as the Sibelius- Academy’s Jazz Department (that provided Master’s and nowadays also Doctoral Degrees).
3. How did you first come to Japan and what were your impressions of the jazz scene here?
Well, I have always had an interest in Japan, but hadn’t had an opportunity to perform there, although had been playing tours in China with my own group (the first one in 1999, at the Beijing Music Festival), and had toured as part of a big band in Australia and Thailand etc.
Then – finally in the end of 2006 I had the chance to bring my group to Tokyo for a few days, to finish off our 4-week-long tour in China. I had a promoter who arranged that, along with Naxos Japan (as far as I can tell): we played two nights at Pit Inn, and it was pretty fantastic, have to admit. But also realized really soon how tough the business side of performing in Japan was. We actually also recorded those nights, the pianist Kenichiro Shinzawa was doing the recording with an engineer. For some reason I didn’t approve the takes – or something- cannot really remember, and it hasn’t been released.
But my impressions of Japan- I was really excited! I loved pretty much everything here. I guess I became some sort of Japan-freak! Pity that I still cannot speak the language, save for some phrases and so..
The music scene in Japan still didn’t open up very easily for me. I couldn’t just travel to Japan to find out things by myself, so mostly I just surfed the internet and actually did get some sort of picture of the club scene. I did put a lot of effort to manage a ‘real’ Japan tour with different cities and many clubs, and I guess I learned along the way a lot.
The music scene is lively, of course, but during these last 9-10 years I have been in close contact with Japanese and the clubs, festivals, etc, I have noticed some sort of – well- maybe deterioration is a bit harsh word – but still- in the quality of music, at least in some places. It’s not only been seen as commercialization, partly that too, but as a bit more not-so-interesting projects bathing in the lights, if you know what I mean..
Many club owners tell me that the economically hard times have hit the music scene the most, and it probably is the reason, at least partly.
4.What are your current and upcoming projects?
I have several projects for the moment, some are more active than the others, but I’m trying to find at least some concerts/tours or recordings for each, every now and then.
Here’s some:
*Global Unit – with Ronan Guilfoyle, Carlos Ezequiel and Greg Burk. We did a recording two years ago and I should get it released soon now. We also toured in Asia- also Japan- and a some tours in Europe.
- Tube Factory – although I don’t much use that name anymore, and the ‘crew’ has already changed more times than I can tell. My so far still latest album ‘Listen’ was however by ‘Pekka Pylkkanen Tube factory’
- Hi-Fi Quintuplet – half UK-group ( with Ronan Guilfoyle, Nick Smart on trumpet )
- Superior Hi-Fi – with the great South African musicians Kesivan Naidoo and Kyle Shepherd, as well as Ronan and Nick)
- A project with the great Venezuelan, but NYC-based pianist Benito Gonzalez, who couldn’t make it to Japan this time.
- I’ve had projects with Danish musicians Thomas Walbum, Niclas Campagnol and Andreas Hatholt, but it is not active at the moment
- Projects with my Brazilian friends Carlos Ezequiel, Lupa Santiago (great guitarist) and many others.
- I’ve also had a project in Portugal, with the great guitarist Bruno Santos. And another one in Italy, with the pianist Francesco Negro. And there’s a new project probably coming up with the great trumpetist Gerard Presencer, and some duo-projects as well.
5. Three favorite albums
That’s a hard one!! Ouch.. There is too many, really! But let’s put it this way:
- one has to be a Trane recording- one of these: Ballads, Crescent, Coltrane Jazz, Love Supreme
- One from these: Rollins: Newk’s Time, Miles: Kind Of Blue, Four and More, ESP, Sorcerer, Kilimanjaro, Silent way, :
- One from these: Herbie Hancock: Empyrean Isles, Cannonball, Garrett, Brecker, Jesus, cannot do this.
- And where are my Cuban and Brazilian recordings, especially Hermeto Pascoal’s ( I am a devoted fan of his, incurable one)????
- Hancock: Thrust, …
- Sorry – I am no good in these!!:)
Interview for Starsing Records in Guangzhou, China, 2014:
1. As a professional musician who was infected by music since childhood, it seems that music has very close connections with the family. Are your parents are musicians? Can you tell me about the music life in your family through your childhood memories?
Well, we did have often music in our house, but neither of my parents were/are musicians. My sister picked up the clarinet around the same time as me, but the music in our house was from the recordings. We had a whole bunch of really nice records, but 78’s and 33’s – my favorites were Pete Fountain and Al Hirt and some Latin-American- style recordings. (Al Hirt ad Pete Fountain being New Orelans-style jazz musicians).
We also used to have parties quite often, and in those parties – and during the holidays the records were played more or less all the time- practically non-stop for some good 10-15 hours, and the same would continue the next day… The LPs also got worn out quite often…
2. How do you choose to learn saxophone?
I had heard some recordings that had either clarinet or saxophone on it, and I just loved the sound of the instrument, and I still do! Also – in the neighboring house there was lived a guy who played tenor, and he also played on one of the recordings that we had (he played in the school big band- the same school I also went to, and later on joined the same band – a bit ‘younger version’ of the band, but nevertheless the same band with the same leader, repertoire etc…)
3. Sometimes musicians may mention about there is a teacher who has prominent influence for their music career. I wonder whether you have someone to recall?
I did have many important teachers in my life (and still do)! My earliest teachers were very cool, and I will never forget them, but the ones that did have a big influence on me and how I thought about music were Paroni Paakkunainen, the late Upi Sorvali and the recently-deceased Kaj Backlund, all teaching in the same Pop/Jazz Institute that was run by Klaus Järvinen (he was also one of my teachers). As a teen I had also Pentti Lahti and Pepa Päivinen. Later on I was studying with Teemu Salminen, Jukka Perko and Jukkis Uotila, at the Sibelius Academy. In Holland I studied with Jasper Bloom and Dick de Graaf and had some lessons also from the maste Bob Brookmeyer himself. And after that: David Liebman, and many other visitors that came to Finland, like Dick Oatts and Jerry Bergonzi and many other important jazz musicians, like Bob Mintzer. The thing is that I am extremely grateful of all teaching I have gotten along the way (no matter how ‘difficult’ student I may have been!! J
4. How did you join the UMO Orchestra? What's the harvest you got？
Well, the first time I got to play with UMO was a program that included both UMO and the Tallinn Radio Big Band, in Studio Julius in Helsinki. That must have been in the mid 80’s or so. I did play in other big band all the time, and also some of the saxophonists were or had been my teachers..And it is a small city anyways and one thing led to another.. Then I was needed there at some point and I did play with them several years, pretty much every day. (it is a full-time job with 3-4 long rehearsals a week + concerts on top). A very BIG learning experience for me, I must say! Not only about ‘playing saxophone’ or ‘playing woodwinds’ but also ‘playing jazz’, playing contemporaty music’ and most of all ‘how to manage a seemingly undoable task in a couple of days’!!
5. We should say that the saxophone is a kind of young musical instrument, but it has already become the most pop star with its development especially jazz's popularity just over a century. What's the unique charms of saxophone in your opinion?
6. Someone says jazz has been changing all the time. So what do you think about the unchanged thing of jazz?
7. Tell me your deepest feeling about you and your tube factory during these years' cooperation?
8. What's the most adventurous exploration or Interesting adaptation for saxophone‘s creation style you've ever tried before?
9. Do you have any preferences on microphone when recording different types of saxophones?
Well, in my home studio I have a quite new model from AT- the number is (I think) 4450. But usually in the studios, I do like Neumanns and Telefunkens for sure, but sometimes they tend to be a bit on the soft side for my taste. There’s actually really lots of great microphones, and it’s hard to tell which one would be the best, because it always is a matter of taste and also depends on the actual type of sound that would be required for just that project+ the pre-amps, the desk, the studio’s acoustics etc. Quite a complicated issue to be squeezed into ‘like/don’t like’ – kind of debate, if you know what I mean…
10. Do you prefer earphone or speaker when on the stage？
I suppose you mean ‘ear-monitor’ or ‘monitor/speaker’ here? Well, I have used both, but I don’t own a ear-monitoring system, and usually I’m really happy if there’s just a good-quality monitoring available on stage. A really bad-quality monitoring can take the fun out of playing, so in that sense it is important to have a good monitoring system. But I’m not really picky about those (at least anymoreJ)!
11. Who is your favor jazz musician?
12. I read Bob Mintzer's comment to your works before, he said your music has a kind of elegant complexity. What do you think about the 'complexity' he said?
13. As a saxophone player also can play a variety woodwind at the same time, can you give some suggestions to musical peers about learning other instruments?
14. What sort of equipment do you prefer using to listen to music in daily life? Do you have any hi-fi at your house? What kind of it?
15. You visited Beijing and Shanghai before. What's your impression of chinese jazz festival?
I have enjoyed very much the festivals where I have played in China. The ‘Jazz It Up’ in Shanghai was very well organized and there was a nice feeling overall. And the ‘Beijing Jazz Festival’ was great with the amazing park set up, with thousands of jazz fans attending it. We also had a great ‘side-performance’ at a club in Beijing, where they also celebrated my birthday with a huge cake and champagne and everything! I’ll never forget that experience!
16. Our jazz fans are looking forward to see your live show in china. Do you have some latest performance information or plans to share with us?
I certainly love playing in China! I hope to come back there soon, it has been a while! I have plans of coming back in October 2014, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. If it doesn’t happen, then at least in March 2015 I should be there
1. As a professional musician who was infected by music since childhood, it seems that music has very close connections with the family. Are your parents are musicians? Can you tell me about the music life in your family through your childhood memories?
Well, we did have often music in our house, but neither of my parents were/are musicians. My sister picked up the clarinet around the same time as me, but the music in our house was from the recordings. We had a whole bunch of really nice records, but 78’s and 33’s – my favorites were Pete Fountain and Al Hirt and some Latin-American- style recordings. (Al Hirt ad Pete Fountain being New Orelans-style jazz musicians).
We also used to have parties quite often, and in those parties – and during the holidays the records were played more or less all the time- practically non-stop for some good 10-15 hours, and the same would continue the next day… The LPs also got worn out quite often…
2. How do you choose to learn saxophone?
I had heard some recordings that had either clarinet or saxophone on it, and I just loved the sound of the instrument, and I still do! Also – in the neighboring house there was lived a guy who played tenor, and he also played on one of the recordings that we had (he played in the school big band- the same school I also went to, and later on joined the same band – a bit ‘younger version’ of the band, but nevertheless the same band with the same leader, repertoire etc…)
3. Sometimes musicians may mention about there is a teacher who has prominent influence for their music career. I wonder whether you have someone to recall?
I did have many important teachers in my life (and still do)! My earliest teachers were very cool, and I will never forget them, but the ones that did have a big influence on me and how I thought about music were Paroni Paakkunainen, the late Upi Sorvali and the recently-deceased Kaj Backlund, all teaching in the same Pop/Jazz Institute that was run by Klaus Järvinen (he was also one of my teachers). As a teen I had also Pentti Lahti and Pepa Päivinen. Later on I was studying with Teemu Salminen, Jukka Perko and Jukkis Uotila, at the Sibelius Academy. In Holland I studied with Jasper Bloom and Dick de Graaf and had some lessons also from the maste Bob Brookmeyer himself. And after that: David Liebman, and many other visitors that came to Finland, like Dick Oatts and Jerry Bergonzi and many other important jazz musicians, like Bob Mintzer. The thing is that I am extremely grateful of all teaching I have gotten along the way (no matter how ‘difficult’ student I may have been!! J
4. How did you join the UMO Orchestra? What's the harvest you got？
Well, the first time I got to play with UMO was a program that included both UMO and the Tallinn Radio Big Band, in Studio Julius in Helsinki. That must have been in the mid 80’s or so. I did play in other big band all the time, and also some of the saxophonists were or had been my teachers..And it is a small city anyways and one thing led to another.. Then I was needed there at some point and I did play with them several years, pretty much every day. (it is a full-time job with 3-4 long rehearsals a week + concerts on top). A very BIG learning experience for me, I must say! Not only about ‘playing saxophone’ or ‘playing woodwinds’ but also ‘playing jazz’, playing contemporaty music’ and most of all ‘how to manage a seemingly undoable task in a couple of days’!!
5. We should say that the saxophone is a kind of young musical instrument, but it has already become the most pop star with its development especially jazz's popularity just over a century. What's the unique charms of saxophone in your opinion?
6. Someone says jazz has been changing all the time. So what do you think about the unchanged thing of jazz?
7. Tell me your deepest feeling about you and your tube factory during these years' cooperation?
8. What's the most adventurous exploration or Interesting adaptation for saxophone‘s creation style you've ever tried before?
9. Do you have any preferences on microphone when recording different types of saxophones?
Well, in my home studio I have a quite new model from AT- the number is (I think) 4450. But usually in the studios, I do like Neumanns and Telefunkens for sure, but sometimes they tend to be a bit on the soft side for my taste. There’s actually really lots of great microphones, and it’s hard to tell which one would be the best, because it always is a matter of taste and also depends on the actual type of sound that would be required for just that project+ the pre-amps, the desk, the studio’s acoustics etc. Quite a complicated issue to be squeezed into ‘like/don’t like’ – kind of debate, if you know what I mean…
10. Do you prefer earphone or speaker when on the stage？
I suppose you mean ‘ear-monitor’ or ‘monitor/speaker’ here? Well, I have used both, but I don’t own a ear-monitoring system, and usually I’m really happy if there’s just a good-quality monitoring available on stage. A really bad-quality monitoring can take the fun out of playing, so in that sense it is important to have a good monitoring system. But I’m not really picky about those (at least anymoreJ)!
11. Who is your favor jazz musician?
12. I read Bob Mintzer's comment to your works before, he said your music has a kind of elegant complexity. What do you think about the 'complexity' he said?
13. As a saxophone player also can play a variety woodwind at the same time, can you give some suggestions to musical peers about learning other instruments?
14. What sort of equipment do you prefer using to listen to music in daily life? Do you have any hi-fi at your house? What kind of it?
15. You visited Beijing and Shanghai before. What's your impression of chinese jazz festival?
I have enjoyed very much the festivals where I have played in China. The ‘Jazz It Up’ in Shanghai was very well organized and there was a nice feeling overall. And the ‘Beijing Jazz Festival’ was great with the amazing park set up, with thousands of jazz fans attending it. We also had a great ‘side-performance’ at a club in Beijing, where they also celebrated my birthday with a huge cake and champagne and everything! I’ll never forget that experience!
16. Our jazz fans are looking forward to see your live show in china. Do you have some latest performance information or plans to share with us?
I certainly love playing in China! I hope to come back there soon, it has been a while! I have plans of coming back in October 2014, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. If it doesn’t happen, then at least in March 2015 I should be there