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Verneri Pohjola & Black Motor: Rubidium

By Eyal Hareuveni
March 31, 2013
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Black Motor is Finland's leading trio of free jazz that began to gain a wider recognition outside Finland in recent years. Since its foundation around 2005, the central Finland, Tampere-based proletariat trio expanded its muscular, uncompromising post-

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler and

Peter Brötzmann

woodwinds
1941 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Br?tzmann approach as it began to collaborate with fellow, innovative Finnish improvisers as saxophonist

Juhani Aaltonen

saxophone
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">Juhani Aaltonen, guitarist Raoul Björkenheim and bassist Teppo Hauta-aho, as well as circus acts, dancers, poets , rap artists and DJ's. Helsinki-based trumpeter

Verneri Pohjola

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Verneri Pohjola, who collaborated live before with black Motor, has a different approach, lyrical and melodicaly rich, as featured on his recordings with

Ilmiliekki

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Ilmiliekki and on his own quartet. This pairing of Pohjola and Black Motor, the first joint recording of the trio, balances the approaches of both sides. It enables the new, like-minded collective of four distinct and strong musical personalities to pay respect to past heroes, Slavic music culture and Finnish folk music and enjoy playing strong, mostly melancholic, melodies in keeping with the Finnish national ethos.

Tommy Dorsey

trombone
1905 - 1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Tommy Dorsey. Sippola found rare recordings of these compositions in Tampere flea market, the latter played by cult organist Korla Pandit, therefore both arrangements stresses the quartet bold and show no respect to original or past performances.

Bassist Ville Rauhala is the key player. He not only anchors the compositions in his own shifting concept of time keeping but also sketches and expands the the loose outlines and contributes imaginative, expressive solos. His two compositions present the two sides of this quartet. "Vainila," taken from the early repertoire of Black Motor, is an urgent and muscular free jazz assault of fireworks while the following "Alma," for the yet unborn daughter of Rauhala, is a touching, lyrical melody. Pohjola, who contributed three compositions, is also a varied composer. The title piece is structured like a mini-suite, with a dramatic narratives and slow-burning interplay that gains intensity and fierce power. "Old Papa's Blues," dedicated to his late father is a heartfelt, sad ballad, while "The Old Janitsar," is a playful one inspired by drummers

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Max Roach and the great Finnish

Edward Vesala

drums
1945 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Edward Vesala.

The cover of Vesala's "Kynnyspuulla," originally recorded with Polish trumpeter

Tomasz Sta��ko

trumpet
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Sta��ko and Aaltonen, is crystalline demonstration of melodic, melancholic beauty, with reserved pathos and captivating emotional impact, examplified by Pohjola arresting solo.

Triumphant collaboration by excellent, strong-minded musicians.

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Track Listing

WWaltz; Song of India; Vainila; Alma; Rubidium; Old Papa's Blues; Sax-O-Phun; Kynnyspuulla; The Last Janitsar.

Personnel

Verneri Pohjola

trumpet

Vernerii Pohjola: trumpet; Sami Sippola: tenor and soprano saxophone; Ville Rauhala: double bass; Simo Laihonen: drums.

Album information

Title: Rubidium | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: TUM Records

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