"The recently formed Brain Inventory Trio not only bridges two cultures but also brings us a fusion of styles from jazz and folk music to rock, throwing all preconceptions out the window. With American pianist Michael Jefry Stevens and two Finns, saxophonist Esa Pietilä and cellist Juho Laitinen, in the line‐up, the trio's talents span across a multitude of musical genres. The upcoming album was recorded at a concert played in Helsinki in 2010.
Both Michael Jefry Stevens and Esa Pietilä are widely known for their avant‐garde improvisation and visionary take on music. The upcoming album, The Wall, finally brings together the two musicians and their original and distinctive styles of freeform jazz. Recorded live, the album's material is fifty percent composed pieces and fifty percent pure collective improvisation.
The unusual instrumentation of piano, cello (both acoustic and electric) and saxophones opens possibilities for new musical expression. The absence of a rhythm section leaves more room for free expression, with Stevens' multi‐faceted style and piano sound merging with the effects of the electric cello to create a massive, almost orchestral sound world.
“The fact that we come from different cultural and musical backgrounds adds just the right amount of friction and tension to our music. For us, it was important to carry the element of surprise and musical risk‐taking of our live performances over to the album. The result is something very unusual that's neither traditional jazz nor freeform, but something in‐ between,” says Pietilä."
Esa Pietilä website
