Home » Jazz Articles » Extended Analysis » Various Artists: Music For Ukraine
Various Artists: Music For Ukraine
Verneri Pohjola
trumpet
Timo Lassy
saxophoneb.1974
Olavi Louhivuori
drumsb.1981
Mikko Innanen
saxophoneb.1978
Aki Rissanen
piano
Kalle Kalima
guitarb.1973
But while We Jazz Records certainly champions Finland's home-grown talent, it is a label of international character. Also giving of their time and music on this compilation are American saxophonist " data-original-title="" title="">Hunter Diamond, Swiss singer
Lucia Cadotsch
vocalsb.1984
Kit Downes
keyboardsb.1986
Tilo Weber
drumsThe easiest thing for We Jazz Records—and for the artists—would simply have been to harvest compositions from past releases, but fully twenty-two of the contributions are previously unreleased, which bestows collectable value on this Bandcamp release. Only Lampen's darkly brooding alt-rock track "Kerezen," an untitled, pulsating vignette by Koma Saxo, Black Diamond's "Sea Change" and a private, YouTube-only recording by the saxophone, drum and bass trio Tripak, have previously seen the light of day.
Unsurprisingly, the artists collectively represent a very broad sonic palette. Nearly all the tracks are by small ensembles —trios and quartets mostly—with a few notable exceptions, but no two sound alike. Black Diamond—the duo of tenor saxophonist Hunter Diamond and bass clarinetist
Artie Black
woodwinds
Jason Nazary
drums
David Leon
saxophone, altoThere are four solo performances: on "It's Better If You Don't" Chicago-born-and bred baritone saxophonist Jonah Parzen-Johnson solos majestically over layers of grooving pulses; drummer
Teppo Mäkynen
drums
"
data-original-title="" title="">Carl Stone's "Chin Go Gae" seduces with wavy Morricone-esque melody, balm-like drone and a gentle pulse. Two vocalists offer contrasting aesthetics: Lucia Cadotsch, gently buoyed by pianist Kit Downes and bassist 
Ruth Goller
bassSo where is the jazz? Well, pretty much everything else falls into small ensemble, improvisational territory. Standouts are numerous. Trumpeter
Verneri Pohjola
trumpetMikko Innanen
saxophoneb.1978
Sonny Rollins
saxophoneb.1930
Joe Fonda
bassb.1954
Lou Grassi
drumsb.1947
Jaska Lukkarinen
drumsThere are three other live tracks: "Maedels," recorded at Berlin's A-Trane, features drummer
Tilo Weber
drums
Sebastian Gille
saxophone
Lukas Traxel
bass
Otis Sandsjö
saxophoneb.1987
Moritz Baumgärtner
drumsSubtlety is the key on Superstition's "Sight and Science," where tenor saxophonist
Adele Sauros
saxophone
Linda Fredriksson
saxophone
"
data-original-title="" title="">Mikael saastamoinen and Olavi Louhivuori
drumsb.1981
Joona Toivanen
pianob.1981
Nik Bärtsch
pianob.1971
At the more experimental edges of this compilation, the tongue-twistingly named Perussastamala & Taistokisu deals in dark, ambient sonorities with an array of effects, samples and post-production jiggery pokery. Manzappazcewski's "Of Course My Incredulous Recoiling Was My Problem" delivers free improvisation of abstract persuasion—propelled by Andrew Edman's Fender Rhodes unleashing—not to mention the album's most long-winded title.
By contrast, gentle melodicism infuses "Unite Us All," a moving collaboration between drummer
Terkel Noergaard
drumsb.1983
Soren Gemmer
pianob.1984
"
data-original-title="" title="">Sami Sippola following his muse, cajoled by 
"
data-original-title="" title="">Ville Rauhala's lowing arco and 
Janne Tuomi
drumsb.1973
In purely musical terms, Music For Ukraine is hugely satisfying. Not a single track sounds superfluous. And on a compilation of this size, the discovery of hitherto unknown artists of outstanding talent is almost a given. Music For Ukraine is a truly fine showcase for We Jazz Records, but more importantly, it sets an example that other labels might consider emulating. Essential. ">
Track Listing
Sea Change; Sight and Science; Brother II; Song in Minor; Maedels; Myztong; Untitled; Better Together; For Robert Lockwood Jr.; Forest Hut; It’s Better If You Don’t; Live at Bubblan; Sista Sommardagen; About Bowman’s Sista Sommardagen; Kerzen; Low; A Rummed Chop; Untitled; Of Course My Incredulous Recoiling Was My Problem; Of Profession (Early Sketch); Equation; This Room; Serriterri; Unite Us All; Kerran Varhainen Pyh?aamu; Chin Go Gae.
Personnel
Additional Instrumentation
Hunter Diamond: tenor saxophone, clarinet, gongs, singing bowls, woodblocks, kalimba (1); Artie Black: bass clarinet (1); Adele Sauros: tenor saxophone (2); Linda Fredriksson: alto and baritone saxophones (2); Mikael Saastamoinen: bass (2); Olavi Louhivuori: drums (2, 4, 20); Lucia Cadotsch: vocals (3); Kit Downes: piano (3); Ruth Goller: bass (3); Verneri Pohjola: trumpet (4); Tuomo Pr?tt?l?: piano (4); Antti L?tj?nen: bass (4); Tilo Weber: drums (5); Sebastian Gille: tenor sax (5); Thomas Stieger: bass (5); Eeti Nieminen: drums (6); Eero Tikkanen: bass (6); Max Zenger: saxophones (6); Mikko Innanen: tenor saxophone (7); Joe Fonda: bass (7); Lou Grassi: drums (7); Timo Lassy: tenor sax (8); Ville Herrala: bass (8); Jaska Lukkarinen: drums (8); Joachim Florent: bass (9); Aki Rissanen: piano (9); Will Guthrie: drums (9); Mikael Saastamoinen: bass, effects, samples (10); Karin M?kiranta: voice, effects, samples (10); Jonah Parzen-Johnson: baritone saxophone, electronics (11); John Holmstr?m: piano (12); Alfred Lorinius: bass (12); M?rten Magnefors: drums (12); Sami Nummela: drums (13); Tomi Nikku: trumpet (13); Joonas Tuuri: bass (13); Juho Luukkainen: remix, additional production (14); Kalle Kalima: guitar (15); Tatu R?nkk?: drums (15); Teppo M?kynen: various instruments, production (16); Jason Nazary: drums, percussion, synths, double knot, keyed mosstone, softpop, space drum & microkorg (17); David Leon: flutes (17); Petter Eldh: bass, post- production; (18); Stanley J. Zappa: saxophone (19); Nick Skrowaczewski: percussion (19); Andrew Wedman: Fender Rhodes (19); Joona Toivanen: piano (20); Tapani Toivanen: bass (20); Aino Juutilainen: cello (21); Merimaija Aalto: violin, vocals (21); Milo Linnovaara: clarinet (21); Joonas Lepp?nen: drums (21); Lukas Traxel: bass (22); Otis Sandsj?: saxophone (22); Moritz Baumg?rtner: drums (22);Tuure Tammi: trumpet (23); Sami Pekkola: saxophone (23); Tero Kemppainen: bass (23); Simo Laihonen: drums (23); Terkel N?rgaard: drums (24); Ralph Alessi: trumpet (24); S?ren Gemmer: piano (24); Jesper Thorn: bass (24); Sami Sippola: tenor saxophone (25); Ville Rauhala: bass (25); Janne Tuomi: drums (25); Carl Stone: laptop, post-production (26).
Album information
Title: Music For Ukraine | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: We Jazz Records
Tags
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.Showcase
Buy Now
Featured
Darwin AI: Surivior Choice
By Alex Otey buy
Carnaval - The Songs Were So Beautiful
By Antonio Adolfo buyGiveaway
