Aleatoric ja Impérial Quartet Vapaat äänet -kiertueella maaliskuussa
This common tour will start on March 12th at Kanneltalo in Helsinki, bringing on over Finland Fresh sounds from the French and Finnish jazz scenes, with a Belgian touch.
Pianist Aki Rissanen and Belgian saxophonist Robin Verheyen combine forces with drummer Markku Ounaskari in this trio that literally seizes the moment. Aleatoric will first perform its own concerts on March 9th to 11th, and will be joined after by the Impérial quartet which celebrates with almost the whole range of the saxophone family and a groovy rhythm section. The French-Belgian quartet will continue touring alone in Finland from March 18th till 22nd.
This is the 26th tour produced together by the Finnish Jazz Federation and Vapaat äänet, since 1996.
Aleatoric is music in the here and now. The album released on Eclipse Music in 2013 was recorded during a special, live, one-day studio session. The term “aleatoric” refers to composing and making by means of chance and coincidence. And even though a lot of the material here is composed, the element of chance is the defining one on this album. Just like many of the all times classic jazz albums, “Aleatoric” captures, like a musical photograph, a special moment in the recording history of these great musicians. The music is new and fresh but, at the same time, the method of making this album is deeply rooted in the best tradition of classic jazz.
Pianist Aki Rissanen (b. 1980) has been quickly rising among the few top forces of the instrument in Finnish Jazz, and gained growing attention in the European jazz scene. In addition to his high merits in the Solo Piano Competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and La Defense competition in France, Rissanen is best known for his works with Verneri Pohjola, Jukka Perko and the UMO Jazz Orchestra. The acclaimed Aki Rissanen Jussi Lehtonen Quartet with Dave Liebman has been released in 2015 by German label Ozella Records. His long term duo partner Robin Verheyen (1983) is considered one of the top European saxophone players and accomplished jazz musicians from Belgium. He has established himself since 2007 in NYC where he quickly build a reputation there and has worked with such jazz heavyweights as Gary Peacock, Bill Carrothers, Drew Gress and many others. Since 2012 he has also started a collaboration with pianist Marc Copland. Recently they have performed as a quartet with Gary Peacock and Joey Baron at the Jazz Middelheim Festival in Belgium.
Drummer Markku Ounaskari is well respected all over Europe and has recorded, among others, for the legendary ECM record label. His high experience brings deeper perspectives to the soundscapes of the young soloists. Ounaskari has been awarded with the Yrjö award in 2014, the most prestigious jazz prize in Finland
“The trio’s blend of chamber jazz lyricism and improvisatory rigor is an effective mix that fully engages the listener. Highly recommended.” **** The Jazzmann/ Ian Mann, Nov 1st 2013, UK
The Impérial Quartet emerged in 2010 as a fresh surprise on the bubbling French jazz scene. This highly interactive and expressive band has been an award-winner of the renowned Jazz Migration tour program in 2012, a program initiated by the AJC which aims at supporting youth innovation and creativity. In 2013, the Naïve Record label released their second album “Slim Fat”.
The members of the quartet have been accomplices for many years. Damien Sabatier and Gérald Chevillon have even been soul brothers since their teenage years. Together they share the family of saxophones from sopranino to bass, developing an original and unexpected sound palate. This uncommon variety of pitches supported by a generous and solid rhythmic pair allows the exploration of new musical territory through the compositions of all the four members of the band. The quartet’s search for organic material, is also inspired by traditional music, trance music and that somewhat “dirty” rock energy. It serves as a rhythmic pool to their spacious melodies, fiery improvisations and other theatrics.
Both saxophonists and Antonin Leymarie have played in Tous Dehors, the large band of clarinetist Laurent Dehors which successfully performed at Pori Jazz 2011. The Finnish audience has also had the chance to appreciate the skills of Chevillon on bass saxophone as part of the Laurent Dehors Trio in March 2014. Joachim Florent too has been heard before in Finland, touring with two outstanding trios, Jean Louis (2010) and Metalophone (2012). The Belgian bassist was praised for his energetic and precise playing, and has also performed previously together with Aki Rissanen in the quartet White Light (2008). Leymarie is a new-comer in Finland. The drummer has been involved in many groups and has recently created his own Magnetic Ensemble, whose hypnotic trance has gone wild on the French alternative music scene.
“Impérial Pulsar” is a recent project of the quartet with percussionists from Mali, which has been presented at the prestigious Africolors festival in Paris. This African connection will witness a new episode when the Impérial Quartet invite the Senegalese master of rhythms Ousseynou Mbaye, from the Galaxy group, to join them in Kerava Library on March 21st.
Aleatoric (Finland, Belgium)
Robin Verheyen, tenor and soprano saxophone
Aki Rissanen piano
Markku Ounaskari drums
www.aki.rissanen.com
http://robinverheyen.be/
http://jazzfinland.fi/ajankohtaista/pianisti-aki-rissaselta-tuore-albumi-aleatoric
Impérial Quartet (France, Belgium)
Damien Sabatier baritone, alto and sopranino saxophone
Gérald Chevillon bass, tenor and soprano saxophone
Joachim Florent bass guitar
Antonin Leymarie drums
http://compagnieimperial.com/
https://soundcloud.com/imperialquartet
Tour program from March 9th to 22nd 2015
Aleatoric
9.3. Kerava, Vapaaehtoisen Hyvinvointityön keskus klo 19 / järj. Kerava Jazz
10.3. Loimaa, Taidetalo klo 19
11.3. Tallinn, Philly Joe’s klo 20
Aleatoric & Impérial Quartet
12.3. Helsinki, Kanneltalo klo 19
13.3. Turku, Turun seudun musiikkiopisto klo 19
14.3. Salo, taidemuseo Veturitalli klo 19
15.3. Loviisa, Keskus Centralen klo 18
17.3. Joensuu, konservatorio klo 19 / järj. Jazzkerho -76 ry
Impérial Quartet
18.3. Ylivieska, Akustiikka klo 19
19.3. Raahe, Raaheen teatteri klo 19
20.3. Kuopio, OP-Jazzklubi klo 21
21.3. Kerava, Keravan kirjasto klo 15 / guest: Ousseynou Mbaye
22.3. Jämsä, Pokura klo 16
Coproduction Finnish Jazz Federation www.jazzliitto.fi and Vapaat äänet
In cooperation with the AJC (association Jazzé-Croisé) www.ajc-jazz.eu
Tour support
Institut Français en Finlande http://www.france.fi/
Embassy of Belgium in Finland http://countries.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/finland/
MES the Foundation for Finnish Music http://www.musiikinedistamissaatio.fi/
Spedidam http://www.spedidam.fr/
Réseau en Scène http://www.reseauenscene.fr/
Sponsored by Kumu drums / hand made drums in Finland www.kumu.fi