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| Scandinavian guitar wizard, Raoul Bjorkenheim, first met the legendary jazz drummer and composer Edward Vesala at summer band camp in 1983 and the next year was asked to add some guitar parts to Vesala's recording for the UMO Jazz Orchestra. The two soloists were tenor saxist Juhani Aaltonen and trumpeter Tomasz Stanko. Mr. Bjorkenheim was asked to compose for the UMO several years earlier and claimed to have been influenced by Anthony Braxton & Duke Ellington, as well as Stravinsky and Bartok. Raoul was again asked to write for the UMO more recently and this time utilized the talents of the elder-statesman, Juhani Aaltonen on tenor & flute, Iro Haarla on piano & harp and Raoul on guitars and percussion. Raoul spent quite a while composing this music and you can tell be listening as it is rich, varied and immensely creative. The title piece opens and has the saxes playing these fierce repeating riffs. Raoul takes a long, spirited solo as the band plays the great charts tightly around him. What is most amazing is he way Raoul's guitar fits perfectly within the layers of lines provided by the marvelous 18-piece orchestra. On "Questions", Ms. Haarla's superb harp and harp-like piano play their dreamy lines while the band sizzles with mysterious and provocative waves. Both Juhani on tenor and Raoul on guitar play with spacious, sublime beauty throughout this long epic-length work. The piece builds in intensity and swings profusely in the second half with strong trombone soloing and powerful swirling horns that move into free-space near the end and then drifting into a warm dreamscape. "In the Green Light" has an infectious, sort of funky groove with some wah-wah guitar and inspired solos from the piano, soprano sax and a smoking solo from Raoul. "The Bloody Fields" opens with dark waves Stravinsky-like horns and is followed by a righteous tenor solo that reaches deep into the heart and soul. This piece is filled with suspense and has some awesome drums and an immensely eerie guitar solo from Raoul. "Lost Love" is equally suspenseful and features some tasty acoustic guitar, delicate acoustic harp and haunting flute. Superb! "Fiery Flight" brings things to a close with rich harmonies for all and more of Raoul's astonishing guitar riding the waves of the entire ensemble and the saxes screaming together powerfully. When Raoul gave me a copy of this classic gem in December, I knew it was destined to become one this year's best discs and each time I listen to it I become even more convinced. The artwork is also excellent, so dig right in! |
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ARTISTS
UMO Jazz Orchestra with Juhani Aaltonen (alto and tenor sax); Raoul Bjorkenheim (electric guitar, gongs, bass drums); Iro Haarla (piano, harp); Mikko Hassinen (conductor) |
| See all titles featuring Raoul Bjorkenheim |
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