Seppo Kantonen, Mikko Innanen, Liudas Mockunas, Joonas Riippa _ Jazz Finland, Helsinki, September 2014 (c) Maarit Kytöharju

Retro-futuristic, curiously swinging, alternative jazz from the North

Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio is the most essential laboratory of the highly talented, free-minded and increasingly well-known Finnish saxophonist and composer as a band leader.

Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio is firmly rooted in the history of jazz, yet at the same time it is boldly forward-looking – or “retro-futuristic”, as Innanen himself calls it. The listener might hear echoes of Monk, Mingus and Sun Ra, but right from the start it becomes obvious that consciously seek musical areas new and uncharted. Or as Downbeat magazine put it in a concert review: “Think Ornette Coleman in a honky tonk, updated and glazed with dry Finnish wit.”
 
Saxophonist, composer Innanen, Seppo Kantonen on synthesizers and Joonas Riippa on drums form the nucleus of Innkvisitio that prepares new material together. Although it is Innanen who suggests new compositions or improvisational vehicles, after that, it becomes a collective effort. The quartet is completed with a second saxophonist who is hand-picked from the international Innkvisitio pool of Liudas Mockunas (LIT) or Fredrik Ljungkvist (SWE),or Pauli Lyytinen (FIN) or Daniel Erdmann (GER).

The band celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2014 and has released two albums on TUM-Records. The third album has been recorded in Helsinki in September 2014 by Innanen, Mockunas, Kantonen and Riippa. It will also be published by the high profiled Helsinki based Record label. It will be released in the fall of 2015.

http://mikkoinnanen.com/innkvisitio.html

Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio
PAA-DA-PAP
TUM CD 019

 

Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio
CLUSTROPHY
TUM CD 025 

 

The line ups of Innkvisito

Mikko Innanen alto and baritone saxophones
Seppo Kantonen synthesizers
Joonas Riippa drums
+
Liudas Mockunas tenor saxophone, clarinet
or
Fredrik Ljungkvist tenor saxophone, clarinet
or
Pauli Lyytinen tenor and soprano saxophones
or
Daniel Erdmann tenor and soprano saxophones

Mikko Innanen and Liudas Mockunas_ Jazz Finland, Helsinki, September 2014 (c) Maarit Kytöharju


The concerts of Innkvisitio since 2004

2004     First concerts, in quartet with Timo Lassy

2006     Tour in Finland, Tampere Jazz Happening  (FIN)

2007     album « Paa-Da-Pap » TUM Records | European tour in quartet, first concerts with Fredrik Ljungkvist: Nattjazz, Bergen – Nasjonal Jazz Scene, Oslo (NOR) – Moers Festival (GER), Assecarm, Amiens (FR) | Reims Jazz festival (FR): first concert in quartet with Daniel Erdmann

2008     Europa Jazz, Le Mans (FR) | Copenhagen Jazz Festival (DK) |Umeå Jazz Festival (SWE) French Tour in quartet with D. Erdmann: – Rencontres D’Jazz Nevers – Périscope, Lyon – JazzyColors, Paris

2009     Vilnius Jazz Festival (LT): quartet with Liudas Mockunas | French tour in quartet with D. Erdmann: Jazzèbre, Perpignan – AJMI, Avignon  | Tour in quintet with F. Ljungkvist and D. Erdmann: Tampere Jazz Happening  (FIN)| Jazzkaar, Tallinn (EST)

2010     Vossa Jazz (NOR)|Northen American tour in quartet with F. Ljungkvist: Washington – New York – Rochester Jazz Festival – Ottawa Jazz Festival – Vancouver Jazz Festival |Debrecen Jazz Days (HU) | album “Clustrophy” TUM Records + Tour in Finland in quartet with D. Erdman

2011     French tour: Fondation Laborie en Limousin, Solignac – saison de Djaz 51, Reims  Flow Festival, Helsinki (FIN): quartet with L. Mockunas | Innkvistio Klubi, Helsinki (FIN): quartet with L. Mockunas, quartet with Pauli Lyytinen

2012     European Jazz Nights, Oslo (NOR) – special edition with Stefan Pasborg on drums

2013     April Jazz, Espoo (FIN) in quartet with P. Lyytinen | Jazz on the Beach, Raahe (FIN) in quartet with F. Ljungkvist | French tour in quartet with F. Ljungkvist: Le Barouf, Le Mans – Le Petit faucheux, festival Emergences, Tours – Angers,  – La Cave Dimière, Argenteuil  – Le Périscope, Lyon – salle des fêtes de Saint Hilaire-de-Brens

2014   10th anniversary tour in Finland, in quartet with L. Mockunas: 8 concerts, as a double bill with Vincent Courtois Mediums | Nattjazz, Bergen (NOR) + Jazz im Goethe Garten and Hot Club de Portugal, Lisbon (POR) in quartet with F. Ljungkvist | Jazz Finland festival, Helsinki + recording of new album + Vilnius Jazz Festival, in quartet with L. Mockunas

2015  Are You Free? (SLO) | in quintet with L. Mockunas & Laurent Blondiau: Le Bravo, Brussels,  Le Petit faucheux, festival Emergences, Tours  | in quartet with L. Mockunas: Le Périscope, Lyon, Orléans, La Dynamo de Banlieues Bleues, Dijon, Media Music

2016  Tour in Finland, in quartet with L. Mockunas: 4 concerts | Germany: Cuba, Münster + Leer, Jazz Live im Speicher
www.mikkoinnanen.com

Booking
Vapaat äänet – Charles Gil