STOCKHOLM JAZZ ORCHESTRA / BIG BAND MUSIC

I've been fortunate to have held the drum seat of this wonderful organization since 1992. The bandleader Fredrik Noren on lead trumpet and myself on drums have established a musical connection that’s like a hand in glove. My recent big band chart "Avenida" was recorded on the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra plays Stockholm Jazz Orchestra CD (Dragon records DRCD 407, 2007). The writing process led me to work on other tunes as well and I'm currently working on a whole CD's worth of charts. Hopefully I'll get the SJO to record them one day.

I naturally love to play other people's music, too, and the SJO has often offered me a chance to hook up with friends from the NYC days; Bob Mintzer, Dick Oatts, Maria Schneider and perhaps most often pianist and composer/arranger Jim McNeely. All these guys are big favourites and I think the band does a particularly fine job of playing Jim's wonderful music. Look for our appearances with Jim in the spring of 2010. Among today's big bands, I feel the SJO's intonation, phrasing and dynamic expression is really unique.

With the band, I've also done an "In the Spirit of Jaco Pastorius"-project that besides the three Jaco originals, includes seven of my charts on tunes he made famous. This is a program that I do as a conductor/piano soloist with the fabulous rhythm section of Timo Hirvonen on bass and Jussi Lehtonen on drums.

I've done numerous appearances and clinics with big bands through the years and if you're interested in having me as a quest, please get in touch: avenida@kolumbus.fi

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