The trio, Strambulisma, is 100% Finnish - but their music is not
a mainstream jazz experience. Jani Malmi has said that "We are
in opposition to 'genre music'. We want to give our own character
to the music that comes out from the traditions we know and explore.
It draws on the subconscious for expression."
Strambulisma's music stems from many traditions in the East and
West. It has inspirations in the Oriental, Finnish traditionals, blues...
But all those traditions are seeds to Strambulisma's way of treating
the music in their own way of 'sentimento'. Strambulisma feels that
without a personal and sentimental approach the Finnish tango, or
the Indian influences are not given a touching, modern musical
interpretation, a true bow to the various and inter-twined traditions
appearing in their music. And with the element of improvisation on
stage, Strambulisma is re-influencing it's personal view on every
performance.
Each member of the trio has a long history and a prominent standing
in Finnish jazz, and numerous collaborations internationally which have
molded their individual musical personalities. In Strambulisma these
musicians have now been knitted into a tight-and-free ensemble.
Jani Malmi is the leading jazz guitarist-composer in Finland. Malmi
has been called "the nuanced colorist of the guitar sounds looking for
an expression beside the typical in jazz". He studied the guitar
frequently with John Abercrombie in New York in the late 80's. He has
recorded five personal recordings with music of his own and has
participated in several noted groups called "Jani Malmi Trio/Group",
"pataljoona", etc. before Strambulisma.
Markku Ounaskari has been working in a vast number of bands in
Finland and abroad: Jarmo Savolainen trio, Raoul Björkenheim-Juhani
Aaltonen Quartet, Iro Haarla Quintet, Piirpauke, Pekka Pohjola,
Tomasz Stanko, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler, Marc Ducret, Lars
Danielsson, and many more.
Lasse Lindgren has been working with Jukka Perko, Jarmo Savolainen,
Severi Pyysalo and other leading musicians in Finland, and he has
also shared the stage with Tomasz Stanko, Audun Kleive, Lenny Pickett,
Wayne Krantz, Anders Bergcrantz, Ben Monder, Marc Ducret...
NEW CD OUT NOW
Get it from Jukeboxshop.net
or Digelius Music (look for MALMI Jani at Digelius)
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