(Avant-Garde Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Big Band) [CD] European Jazz Orchestra - Live in Turku (2 CD) - 2011, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

01. Obatala (Laukkanen) - 10:45
02. What Is This Thing Called Love (Porter) - 8:27
03. Jaalohkuja poeg (The Icebreaker's Son) (Soot) - 10:49
04. Bulgur (Laukkanen) - 12:08
05. The Missionary (Laukkanen) - 8:51
06. Manteca (Gillespie-Pozo) - 11:11

This CD release of the European Jazz Orchestra 2011 demolishes the idea of big band music being an old and dusty genre. Diverse stories in music by Jere Laukkanen and Raul Sööt, told without words, quirky and playful arranged in new ways, and with true respect of tradition.
Working the roads of Europe, the European Jazz Orchestra faced many practical challenges of touring life - a lost tire at full speed being one of them - but the orchestra also experienced the beautiful sunsets in Stockholm, wild Polish storks and the pleasure of every night joining musical forces for a greater good. The orchestra reached Sigyn Hall in Turku in great shape and time for the live performance broadcasted by the European Broadcasting Union, which is now available on CD.
In 2011, European Jazz Orchestra (EJO) consisted of 17 musicians of both sexes between the ages 18-30 years, deriving from 16 countries in Europe and Canada. The CD contains the vibrant recording of the last concert of 14 and thus the touring experience of the musicians is very evident in the recording. On the CD you sense the practical hardship on tour and the unique experiences of being together as a diverse and yet harmonious group, every night playing to new and different audiences.
Musically, the CD contains fragile and simplistic tunes as well as hot and agitated Afro-Cuban compositions. Some of the tunes are easily accessible and others give greater challenges. The repertoire is wide-ranging, extensive, and above all catchy.
Have a good concert! Oh, by the way, you will find the composers personal comments written in the cover.

Jere Laukkanen (Finland) - conductor
Bjarke Nikolajsen (Denmark), Quentin Ghomari (France), Hayden Powell (Norway), Simon Millerd (Canada) - trumpets
Christine Carlsson (Sweden), Patrick Kenny (Scotland), Vid Zgajner (Slovenia), Juliane Gralle (Germany) - trombones
Julia Schreitl (Austria), Marike van Dijk (Netherlands), Miroslav Popradi (Slovakia), Emanuele di Nardo (Switzerland), Marketa Smejkalova (Czech Republic) - saxophones
Pablo Held (Germany) - piano, keyboards
Peedu Kaas (Estonia) - electric bass, double bass
Ivan Tsonkov (Bulgaria) - percussion
Janko Novoselic (Croatia) - drums
Recorded live at Sigyn Hall, Turku on April 28, 2011.