Kerkko Koskinen Orchestra

– If Agatha was decidedly cinematic, then the new (still unnamed while this was written) album is my official jazz record, Kerkko Koskinen ponders the subject matter of his 14 piece Orchestra’s album release gig. – I guess something soundtracky always creeps into my works, but this time I was aiming for the beatnik vibe of the 50’s modernism. That certain mood typical for Mingus, Modern Jazz Quartet and Dave Brubeck, for instance.

Now the maestro leaves the piano to Aki Rissanen and plays the seldom heard cembalo. The main muscle of the orchestra is the formidable saxophone section of Timo Lassy, Pepa Päivinen, Ari Jokelainen and Manuel Dunkel. French horn, trumpet, trombones and vibraphone add colours. Maximum swing is guaranteed by the rhythm section of Teppo Mäkynen, Antti Lötjönen (both from 5 Corners Quintet) and Antti Lehtinen (SMG).

Rising to fame as the composer/leader of the much loved Ultra Bra, Koskinen has since composed soundtracks and made two nice solo albums featuring himself as the singer. Yhteinen sävel was a collection of old popular songs with different singers, produced and arranged by Kerkko, while the new album and Agatha, with UMO and trumpetist Verneri Pohjola, have taken him deep into the jazz realm.