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Timo Alakotila and Johanna Juhola Vapaassa tilassa (Texicalli) One of the fathers of Finnish chamber folk, pianist Timo Alakotila joins forces with accordionist Johanna Juhola (a member of Troka among other projects), in duets, solos and small ensemble arrangements that include musicians Aili Ikonen (voice), Petri Hakala (mandola, mandolin), Jouni Järvelä (saxophone), Pekka Kuusisto (violin) and Roger Tallroth (guitar). Excellent and highly recommended.

Listen:
Bali
Sylvesteri
Vapaassa tilassa

More info: Johanna Juhola (born 1978) is the modern accordionist that was lifted onstage impressively in the Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals – one of the recently much-talked-about young Sibelius Academy top musicians. Choosing her to perform in the first Eurovision Song Contest held in Finland was well justified. She is, along with Kimmo Pohjonen, a musician who has created new Finnish accordion art with a fresh touch, and has also become well known internationally. Juhola's solo album Miette was one of the most beautiful domestic recordings last year. The pieces are more hopeful, funny and playful than the sombre classics of the Finnish tango tradition. Yet they are just as much in touch with the soul, only in a more urban environment. The most delightful example of this is "Tango Hississä" (Tango in an elevator) with Pekka Kuusisto's playful violin. TIMO ALAKOTILA (b. July 15, 1959) holds the position as one of Finland's busiest, most versatile and most in-demand musicians, primarily in the thriving contemporary folk music scene but also expanding steadily into other areas, for example jazz and classical. His musical history goes back to 1982 in the small Ostrobothnian village of Kaustinen where he started his career in folk music as harmonium player and founder member of the fiddle group JPP. This excellent ensemble quickly established themselves as the best and most innovative folk music group in Finland, due firstly to the superb technical skills of the players but primarily because of the unique and captivating arrangements and original compositions by Timo and colleague Arto Järvelä. During their twenty-five year career, JPP has released nine albums, five of which, DEVIL'S POLSKA, KAUSTINEN RHAPSODY, STRING TEASE, HISTORY and ARTOLOGY were released in North America. They've toured the world, including Thailand, Egypt, North America and all over Scandinavia and Europe. Highlights for 1998 included the recording of their sixth album plus an April appearance at the 11th annual Old Settlers Festival in Austin, Texas with top American artists Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Peter Rowan, Tony Rice and Mollie O'Brien. 1999 has also been a busy year with two tours of USA and concerts around Europe. Ever searching for new avenues of musical absorption and expression, Timo involves himself with numerous other projects. He works with Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory as teacher of composition and music theory while simultaneously holding a similar post at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department, teaching improvisation, arranging, harmonium and piano. Timo Alakotila (piano, sävellys) ja Johanna Juhola (haitarit, sävellys) ovat ottaneet syventymisen kohteekseen pelimannimusiikin improvisaatiomahdollisuudet. Idea kumpuaa jazzmusiikin improvisaatioperinteen siirtämisestä pelimannimusiikin käyttöön. Duon ohjelmisto on heidän säveltämäänsä perinnettä kunnioittavaa, mutta kappaleen ja tilanteen mukaan eri musiikillisiin suuntiin vapaasti rönsyilevää fuusiota. Duon ensimmäisen yhteisen levyn julkaisee syyskuussa 2007 Texicalli Records. Tällä levyllä vierailee liuta kunniakkaita huippusoittajia esittämässä omia näkemyksiään pelimannimusiikki-improvisaatiosta: Aili Ikonen (laulu), Jouni Järvelä (sopraanosaksofoni), Pekka Kuusisto (viulu), Petri Hakala (mandoliini) ja Roger Tallroth (kitara).

Other recordings you might like: Maria Kalaniemi Bellow Poetry Tellu, Kangas, Lyberth and Blak Piniartut