Sylvain Rifflet with Verneri Pohjola - Cake Walk from a Spaceship (February 25, 2022 Eclipse Music)

French world-class saxophonist Sylvain Rifflet and Finnish trumpet star Verneri Pohjola released a joint album, Cake Walk from a Spaceship, in February 2022.

Sylvain Rifflet's unique tenor sound and Verneri Pohjola's original, rich expression combine into an seamlessly stylish whole with the album.

Sylvain Rifflet is known not only as a saxophonist but also as a clarinetist and composer. Rifflet, one of the most acclaimed French musicians of his generation, has performed and recorded with many front-line musicians in both Europe and America, and is considered one of the top names of his generation. Rifflet has released four of his own records and won several awards.

Trumpeter and composer Verneri Pohjola is known around the world for his distinctive, warm sound and expressive improvisation. Titled "The Miles Davis of the North", Pohjola's debut album Aurora grabbed the Finnish Emma Award in 2009 and received praise all over Europe and America. Pohjola, who has since released five more records and won numerous awards, has established himself as one of Europe's most respected jazz musicians.

1. Déjà Vu

2. Abbey

3. Mésanges

4. Cake Walk from a Spaceship

5. Sven Coolson

6. Ryuichi, Fennesz, Alva et les Autres

7. Awkward Commute

8. The Viking's Waltz

9. Baldwin

10. Duo 2

Sylvain Rifflet - saxophone

Verneri Pohjola - trumpet

Philippe Gordiani - guitar

Benjamin Flament - drums

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Ilmiliekki Quartet - Ilmiliekki Quartet (February 11, 2022 We Jazz Records)

Ilmiliekki Quartet from Helsinki return with their new self-titled album on We Jazz Records on 11 February 2022. The group, including Verneri Pohjola (trumpet), Tuomo Prättälä (piano), Antti Lötjönen (bass) and Olavi Louhivuori (drums) is a mainstay in the Finnish scene and the band has been steadily developing their sound for nearly two decades now. It could be said that the group's musicians, each also a solo artist of note these days, has grown with and through performing together with this regularly working quartet. Ilmiliekki Quartet's music has a song-like melodic quality, which pairs naturally with their often freeform search for new musical landscapes.

As testament of Ilmiliekki Quartet being a Band with a capital B, the songs on the new album come from each of the four members. As before, the band also takes a borrowed tune in for a loving rendition, this time tackling "Aila" by the Finnish dream pop group Karina. All in all, there's a deep, moody element to the music, yet at the same time, their sound flows with remarkable ease and lightness of touch. This brings out a wide range of color in their music, which is easy to fall in love with.

1. Three Queens

2. Sgr A*

3. Aila

4. Follow the Damn Breadcrumbs

5. Night Song

6. Kaleidoscopesque

Verneri Pohjola, trumpet

Tuomo Prättälä, piano

Antti Lötjönen, bass

Olavi Louhivuori, drums

"Three Queens" composed by A. Lötjönen, "Sgr A*" & "Kaleidoscopesque" composed by T. Prättälä, "Follow the Damn Breadcrumbs" composed by V. Pohjola, "Night Song" composed by O. Louhivuori, "Aila" composed by H. Tikkanen, K. Mäkiranta [Karina]

Arranged by Ilmiliekki Quartet

Recorded at Kallio-kuninkala, Järvenpää, Finland on 25.–27. Jan 2021

Recorded by Markus Bonsdorff

Mixed & mastered by Tommi Vainikainen

Design by Matti Nives

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Slowly Rolling Camera - Where the Streets Lead (July 23, 2021 Edition Records)

Where the Streets Lead is the new album from Slowly Rolling Camera, following on from their acclaimed 2018 album, Juniper. Colliding the worlds of jazz, trip-hop and cinematic soundscapes, their music blends strong melodies, big grooves and surprising turns of phrase, infused with expansive emotional gravitas. With this album, recorded throughout 2020, the music takes on a greater scale which includes an 8-piece string section and a list of world-class guests including Mark Lockheart, Jasper Høiby, Verneri Pohjola, Chris Potter and Sachal Vasandani, as well as the band’s regular guitarist Stuart McCallum.

This is an album about opportunity, about embracing unknowns and seeing what life throws at you. It’s a reflection on searching for balance, a sense of purpose and identity in everyday life. For the core group of Dave Stapleton, Deri Roberts and Elliot Bennett, it’s a unified take on the journey and the influences that have shaped them all individually and as a collective.

Where the Streets Lead is emphatic in its purpose to communicate the joy of collaboration and to communicate through an audio-sensory landscape their vision of the world. There is a boldness and simplicity in its conception balanced with the attention to detail in its production. With Juniper, their new pathway was set. Where the Streets Lead, is a natural progression and development of the bands’ exploration.

1. You Are the Truth 04:39

2. Where the Streets Lead 05:43

3. Lost Orbits 04:44

4. The Afternoon of Human Life 07:03

5. Widest Possible Aperture 05:55

6. Illuminate 04:30

7. Feels Like Fiction 06:58

8. A Force for Good 06:38

Dave Stapleton Fender Rhodes, Piano, Prophet, Moog

Elliot Bennett Drums

Deri Roberts Sound Design & Production

Mark Lockheart Soprano and Tenor Saxophone

Stuart McCallum Guitar

Jasper Høiby Double Bass

Verneri Pohjola Trumpet

Chris Potter Tenor Saxophone (The Afternoon of Human Life)

Sachal Vasandani Vocals

Jon Visanji violin

Jenni Curiel violin

James Toll violin

Victoria Stapleton violin

Linda Kidwell viola

Rob Tuson viola

Phil Daish-Handy cello

Lionel Handy cello

String arrangements by Dave Stapleton

Recorded remotely at various locations

Vocals on Illuminate recorded at Sear Studios, NYC on Sunday 17th January 2021 by Jeremy Loucas

Strings recorded by Andy Allan at Turner Sims, Southampton in August 2020

Mixed by Deri Roberts in January and February 2021

Mastered by Donal Whelan at Hafod Mastering in Feb 2021

Photography by Dave Stapleton

Artwork by Oli Bentley, Split Design

All music by Dave Stapleton except Illuminate by Dave Stapleton and Sachal Vasandani

Lyrics on Illuminate by Sachal Vasandani

All music published by E2 Music Publishing

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Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio - Ancestry (2018)

This is the fourth album I've done with my Iceland-based trio and it's the first time we've added another musician to the mix. The Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola has been on my radar for a few years and we had been in touch about possibly working together at some point. When the trio was invited to Finland to play at the Tampere Jazz Happening, I knew that was the opportunity we'd been waiting for. After our performance in Tampere we went to the studio at the Sibelius Academy near Helsinki to record and stay for a couple of days. It was wonderful... sauna and all.

Sunna Gunnlaugs (piano)

Þorgrímur Jónsson (double bass)

Scott McLemore (drums)

guest:

Verneri Pohjola

1. Atlantic Lullaby 04:46

2. Ancestry 08:28

3. Spin 12 01:13

4. Movimiento 02:23

5. February 04:57

6. January 06:16

7. Spin 13 01:20

8. A Major Deal 05:19

9. Tricycle 05:52

10. Emu 05:40

11. Spin 14 01:32

12. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go 04:30

13. November 04:48

Produced by Sunna Gunnlaugs and Scott McLemore. Recorded November 5th and 6th 2017 by Markus Bonsdorff at Kallio-Kuninkala Studios, Sibelius Academy in Finland. Mixed and mastered by Kjartan Kjartansson in Reykjavík, Iceland. 

Design by d-steam.com. 

Cover Photo by Amy Nicolazzo. Band photo and Pohjola’s hands by Maarit Kytöharju, other hand photos by Sigurdór Guðmundsson. 

Verneri Pohjola appears courtesy of Edition Records.

RGG / Verneri Pohjola / Samuel Blaser - City Of Gardens (FUNDACJA SLUCHAJ 2018)

The „City of Gardens” is an album that is a natural consequence of the artistic initiative "Contemporary Sonus", initiated by RGG in 2015. It is an idea, within which a completely new musical story was created, composed and dedicated to performers with a specific approach to improvisation. Artistic agreement and a friendly bond between the members of the quintet was a key deciding factor of the character and emotional charge, flowing directly from the creation of sound. 

The Contemporary Sonus of our times seems to differ on the occasion of cultural circumstances. Anyway, what if we say, that communication is possible through the international language of music? Reading this note you already made a decision to have a first try. The music from this album is especially dedicated and composed to underline both individual and collaborative strength of expression of each artist appearing on this album. To make a connection between composition and improvisation even stronger, the last piece, entitled „Rarum” hasn’t even been heard by the composer before its premiere. We invite you to the City of Gardens.

Verneri Pohjola & UMO Jazz Orchestra / Kerkko Koskinen - Agatha (SVART RECORDS 2018)

Kerkko Koskinen’s musical visions have always been ambitious. When he put together what was to become the most popular rock/pop band in Finland in the 1990s, Ultra Bra, the instrumentation of a standard band was just not enough. In addition to four vocalists, the 13-member band included a horn section, two percussionists, and a large-scale string assembly, used in the band’s recordings. Striving to create a “big” sound has always been present in Koskinen’s production, and finally, with Agatha, he has found the orchestra to match his musical vision: a world-class big band, Umo Jazz Orchestra, and a world-class soloist, trumpetist Verneri Pohjola.

Koskinen and Pohjola’s musician personas complement each other in a way that inevitably brings to mind one of the most legendary composer-soloist partnerships in the history of jazz: that of Gil Evans and Miles Davis. Just like Davis created a humane, accessible instrumental contact surface to Evans’ architectural arrangements, Koskinen’s rich and full orchestration is balanced by Pohjola’s trumpetism, full of contrast and intimacy. To mention just a few, Pale Horse, And Then There Was One, and Cats And Pigeons are brilliant examples of Koskinen and Pohjola’s fruitful cooperation.

Crooked Room

Helsinki-Vantaa

Pale Horse

Passenger to Copenhagen

Sparkling Arsenic

Cats and Pigeons

Elephants Can

And Then There Was One

The Pointing Finger

Riemukaare

Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto], Piccolo Flute, Clarinet – Pentti Lahti, Pertti Päivinen

Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Jouni Järvelä

Alto Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Clarinet – Teemu Salminen

Bass – Ville Huolman

Bass Trombone – Mikael Långbacka

Composed By, Arranged By – Kerkko Koskinen

Conductor – Kari Heinilä

Drums – Markus Ketola

Edited By, Supervised By – Tuomas Kallio

French Horn – Esa Tapani, Joonas Seppelin, Tuomo Eerikäinen

Liner Notes – Olli Virtaperko

Mastered By – Svante Forsbäck

Oboe, English Horn – Keijo Silventoinen

Percussion – Antti Lehtinen

Performer, Orchestra – UMO Jazz Orchestra

Photography By – Terhi Kokkonen

Piano – Tuomo Prättälä

Producer – Antti Lehtinen, Kerkko Koskinen

Recorded By, Mixed By – Miikka Huttunen

Sleeve – Antti Eerikäinen

Soloist, Trumpet – Verneri Pohjola

Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Olli Ojajärvi

Timpani, Glockenspiel, Bass Drum [Gran Cassa], Cymbal, Percussion – Tuomo Lassila

Translated By – Nana Gudmundsson

Trombone [1st] – Antti Rissanen (tracks: 1,3,5,7,8), Jari Hongisto (tracks: 2,4,6,9,10)

Trombone [2nd] – Mikko Mustonen

Trombone [3rd], Tuba – Pekka Laukkanen

Trumpet [2nd] – Timo Paasonen

Trumpet [3rd] – Mikko Pettinen

Trumpet [4th] – Tero Saarti

Trumpet [Lead] – Teemu Mattsson

Verneri Pohjola & Mika Kallio - Animal Image (EDITION RECORDS February 23, 2018)

Finnish Jazz trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and percussionist Mika Kallio combine to create an original soundtrack to the extraordinary, poetic, documentary film Animal Image.

Animal Image is a soundtrack album to a poetic documentary about the infinite relationship between man and animal. Edited to an improvised score by Finnish trumpet Verneri Pohjola and percussionist Mika Kallio, the film illustrates the emotional bond between man and animal beyond the boundaries of written language or fictional storylines.

The movie depicts nature-photographer and writer Heikki Willamo’s journey to the landscape of the post ice-age northern wilderness to explore man’s ancient relationship to his prey and Willamo’s personal encounters with the inhabitants of the northern woods. Man, bear, sky and fire: the Finnish forest is a place like nowhere else, a place of dreams and the imagination, an ancient place where its denizens live in the shadows.

Becoming an animal by Perttu Saksa

Animal Image is a poetic documentary film built around original music by Verneri Pohjola and Mika Kallio. The movie depicts an imagined view of man’s ancient relationship with animals. The music accompanies you, creating an emotional language between man and animal – unconstrained by the boundaries of written communication or fictional anthropomorphic narratives.

The music is an invitation towards becoming an animal. To unthink identity and subjectivity. Listen. Free from definition, from body to flesh, where the one is a figure of unity and strength, while the other is in an interminable manifestation of disarticulation, a condition of freedom for animals or whatever it is we are.

Becoming an animal is where the human and the animal enter into a functional alliance. Musical improvisation is dialogue without speech, built around the similar framework – including rules and forms – we use in spoken conversation or social structures. Listen.  Lose the language. Listen and feel. Then imagine a language. Imagine a form of life. Perttu Saksa

Animal Image by Verneri Pohjola

Perttu Saksa is a finnish visual artist and a photographer, who contacted me a couple of years ago about his film project, which was to become an artistic documentary, an experimental wildlife film titled ‘Animal Image’. He wanted to know if I’d be interested to record some music for his project, that he had been working alone for the past 3-4 years. I was so busy with other stuff at the time, that I almost declined, but decided fortunately to meet him despite my lack of time. I wanted to see what he wanted to show me.

When I saw the breathtakingly expressive footage for the first time, I immediately recognized this as something too inspiring to retract myself from. And as the project developed I realized, that probably no other project or person has ever treated my music with such a respect and vision. It was lifted up to the next level.

I’m incredibly proud of this project and I hope that you, the listener, take Perttu’s advice and surrender yourself to the world of becoming (an image of) an animal through this music.

ABOUT THE MOUKA FILMS

The documentary is produced by Mouka Films. Founded in 2006 Mouka Films productions share a warm human touch, unique artistic vision and excellent quality. Mouka Filmi produces award winning documentary films for television and cinema audiences in Finland and internationally.

Perttu Saksa (b. 1977) is a visual artist based in Helsinki, Finland. Perttu’s photography and video works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums around Europe, including Stadtgalerie Kiel, Felleshus Berlin and Finnish Museum of Photography and Helsinki City Art Museum. His works can also be found in various public collections.

Animal Image (2017)

16:9, Full HD, 28min, BW, 5.1 Sound

Film by Perttu Saksa

Music by: Verneri Pohjola and Mika Kallio

CD Track-listing

1. Where Do You Feel at Home 7.08

2. Outside 8.07

3. Foxplay 4.28

4. Man, Animal Image 7.49

5. Goshawk’s Dream 4.03

6. Animal Image 7.00

LP Track-listing

Side A:

1. Where Do You Feel at Home 7.08

2. Outside 8.07

3. Foxplay 4.28

Side B:

4. Man, Animal Image 7.49

5. Goshawk’s Dream 4.03

6. Animal Image 7.00

Verneri Pohjola trumpet, electronics

Mika Kallio drums and gongs

GIGS

03 March 2018 – Tampere, Finland

03 March 2018 – Validi Karkia klubi Pori, Finland

06 March 2018 – Taidetalo Loimaa, Finland

07 March 2018 – Wille Äänekoski, Finland

08 March 2018 – Kinokulma Oulainen, Finland

09 March 2018 – Ravintola Alma Seinäjoki, Finland

10 March 2018 – Logomo, Teatterisali Turku, Finland

11 March 2018 – Nordens Institut på Åland Mariehamn, Finland

13 March 2018 – Turun Seudun Musiikkiopisto Turku, Finland

16 March 2018 – Kuopio, Finland

17 March 2018 – Pakkahuone Joensuu, Finland

18 March 2018 – Pato Klubi Kuusankoski, Finland

20 March 2018 – Malmitalo Helsinki, Finland

CREDITS

Produced by Perttu Saksa and Verneri Pohjola

Recorded at Finnvox Studios by Risto Hemmi

Mixed by Mikko Raita at Studio Kekkonen

Verneri Pohjola plays Van Laar Trumpets and Wedge Mouthpieces

Mika Kallio plays PAISTE Cymbals, Sounds & Gongs.

Verneri and Mika would like to thank:

Perttu Saksa, Risto Hemmi, Mikko Raita, Dave Stapleton, Mouka Filmi, MES, TAIKE, Custom Boards, families in Helsinki and Kuusankoski

Photography by Perttu Saksa

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Pauli Lyytinen Magnetia Orkesteri - Pauli Lyytinen Magnetia Orkesteri (WE JAZZ RECORDS 2017)

On the fifth release on the Grotto Editions X We Jazz 10" EP series, sax man Pauli Lyytinen steps up with a strong 4-tracker featuring Verneri Pohjola on trumpet, Eero Tikkanen on bass, and Mika Kallio on drums. The leader of the Helsinki-based quartet is known from other projects such as Mikko Innanen 10+ (in which the entire quartet is featured), Raoul Björkenheim eCsTaCy, and Elifantree. "Artist of the Year" at the 2017 Pori Jazz Festival, Finland's premiere jazz event, Lyytinen displays his ability of writing melodic fire music with ever-evolving momentum. 

Each of the group members is currently in the middle of an active period in their respective careers, with Pohjola experiencing well-deserved acclaim for his latest LP "Pekka", Tikkanen working on the new album with the Mopo trio, and Kallio performing lauded shows experimenting with the duo of percussion and a dancer. 

On GROTTO005, the quartet pools together their creative resources, presenting four original compositions by Lyytinen. They rely on their individial soloistic strengths and get a lot of mileage out of the group's strong interplay. Their sound should appeal to fans of Art Ensemble of Chicago, Andrew Cyrille, Byard Lancaster, and the indie label avantgarde movement of the late 60's/1970's, to mention but a few directions on the musical compass. That being said, the quartet shines in creating personal music which has a strong footing in the now.

1. Ljubljana 08:25

2. Lonesome Dreamer's Dance 03:45

3. Triangulum 06:42

4. Village Fool 06:13

Pauli Lyytinen, tenor and soprano saxophones

Verneri Pohjola, trumpet

Eero Tikkanen, bass

Mika Kallio, drums

Verneri Pohjola 'Pekka' The New Album

VERNERI POHJOLA

PEKKA

‘Pekka’ is the new, epochal album in Finnish trumpeter/composer Verneri Pohjola’s already illustrious and prolific career. 

An album that promises to be a defining moment in Finnish culture, Pekka reinterprets the music of Verneri’s late father Pekka Pohjola, the internationally acclaimed and revered prog-rock bassist and composer, through the prism of his son’s unique vision.

RELEASED 2nd JUNE 2017

PRE-ORDER NOW

Double LP (The first 100 LPs will be signed by Verneri)

CD (The first 50 CDs will be signed by Verneri)

Listen to 'First Morning'

(Spotify, Apple Music)

Due for release worldwide on 2 June 2017, Pekka is one of the most anticipated albums to emerge from the Finnish progressive, rock and jazz scenes for some time. Seeking to combine Pekka’s music, adored in Finland and internationally during the last four decades, with Verneri’s powerful sense of music making, ‘Pekka’ is an album that will excite, inspire and move many fans across borders, generations and genres.

Yelena Eckemoff Quintet - Blooming Tall Phlox (2017) 2 CD

By: Carol Banks Weber  AXS Contributor

In a way, Yelena Eckemoff has spent her entire life breathing “in the happiness” of her childhood. Originally from the poem, “Scented candles and sparkling wine,” accompanying her latest album, this sentiment emboldens the Russian pianist and composer’s original works of art — of which there are many.

A prolific artist with a million ideas, Eckemoff follows up her May 2016 release, Leaving Everything Behind, with Blooming Tall Phlox. She actually worked on Blooming Tall Phlox earlier, recording the two-disk album in Finland Sept. 4-6, 2013 — two years before Leaving Everything Behind, currently on DownBeat’s “Best Albums of 2016.”

Both albums directly touch on her childhood in Russia, surrounded by a loving, extended family, the source of all her imaginative understanding.

In Blooming Tall Phlox (L&H Production), which comes out Jan. 20 officially, Eckemoff once again uses other media at her disposal and her discretion to bring her childhood to life. True to her classical-jazz impressionism, Eckemoff sees humanity in nature and objects of man-made construction.

Memories are found there, and she knows it. Blooming Tall Phlox features an assortment of memories divided into two distinct categories based on the seasons of summer and winter. She devotes a foreign indie soundtrack to such things as “Apples laid out on the floor,” “Fish fried on open fire,” “Pine Needles warmed by the sun” — Disc 1 “Summer Smells” — and “Grandpa Lera’s bookcase,” “Mommy’s shawl,” and “Aunt Galya’s perfume” — Disc 2 “Winter Smells.”

For this extensive two-disk, 15-track album, Eckemoff plays with a group of musicians from overseas, Finland to be exact. They are Verneri Pohjola (trumpet, flugelhorn), Panu Savolainen (vibes), Antti Lötjönen (double bass), and Olavi Louhivuori (drums, percussion).

If music held the key to the spirits of loved ones, somehow Eckemoff has found a form of two-way communication. As in previous releases, she designed the album, she painted the cover of herself as a child amongst her beloved phlox, and she wrote the poems that glimpse even more of the feeling and thought behind the notes.

The love notes themselves are vastly detailed, yet dreamy, dense yet ethereal, reflective yet enlightening, confident yet full of give and take — traits Eckemoff shares.


This is an album to absorb in its entirety, from start to finish, with frequent browsing of the poetry and the art, a brief rumination of one’s own childhood memories and the possessions left behind.

Individual moments also convey a sense of nostalgia, longing, even a mystical wonder. The fairy dust of Eckemoff’s own piano intro on “Blooming Tall Phlox,” the percussive flap and flutter mimicking “Baba Liza’s Singer” sewing machine, the slick sensation of a horn’s tension and release on “Talks Over Hot Tea”… these things depict a child’s wonder at the everyday things adults take for granted.

To a child, there is still magic in the air, in everything she and those she holds dear touch.

Eckemoff’s modern jazz touches remain impressive, however. This is no atmospheric run, as evidenced strongly in “Apples laid out on the floor.” Everyone on this straight-ahead, post-modern piece exhibits a tactile sensation relevant to jazz’s harmonic building blocks and that sweet exchange of instrumental titles.

Eckemoff herself shows a mastery of both her classical training and later jazz interests in this composition especially. Her inflective, interior piano journey on “Apples laid out…” stands alone, no accompaniment necessary. The accompanying musicians, however, only add to the benefit of the overarching ideas of sensory perception in memories idealized through childhood.

They capture those idealized memories from sense of smell to music entirely. Don’t look for rough-hewn, nihilistic realism here. Eckemoff’s above that.

Yelena Eckemoff is a bandleader who uses every single resource exceptionally. Nothing ever goes to waste in her hands, either.


“I had the idea of writing music about smell for some time before I met with [drummer] Olavi [Louhivuori] in Finland,” Eckemoff explained in a DL Media press release. “The idea came into focus when I saw how much Finland reminded me of Russia; it became obvious to me that it would be the best place to record an album about various aromas.

I brought 15 songs to the session, already named and designed to express certain smells. Writing the poetry came later, even though I nurtured my ideas along with the music. Then I had to select a title for the album, but as I was writing my poems, it became clear that there is one smell that triggers my childhood memories: the smell of the phlox. So I decided to paint a picture of myself in my grandparent's garden, sniffing the phlox, based on a black and white photograph from the time.”

Disc 1

01. Blooming Tall Phlox

02. Apples laid out on the floor

03. Baba Liza's Singer

04. Old - fashioned bread store

05. Wildflower meadows

06. Fish fried on open fire

07. Sleeping in the tent

08. Pine needles warmed by the sun

Disc 2

01. Smoke from the house chimneys in frosty air

02. Talks over hot tea

03. Grandpa Lera's bookcase

04. Clementines and candies on Christmas Tree

05. Mommy's shawl

06. Aunt Galya's perfume

07. Scented candies and sparkling wine

Yelena Eckemoff: piano

Verneri Pohjola: trumpet, flugelhorn

Panu Savolainen: vibraphone

Antti Lötjönen: double bass

Olavi Louhivuori: drums, percussion