FINLAND/ESTONIA: Vocalist and composer Virva Immonen combines jazz expression with truthful and topical lyrics.

The Finnish-Estonian group Virva Quintet, led by Immonen, is celebrating their debut album with release concerts in Helsinki (19.2 Allotria) and Tallinn (20.2 Philly Joe's).

Virva Immonen - vocals
Keio Vutt - saxophones
Britta Virves - piano
Siim Usin - bass
Karl-Juhan Laanesaar – drums

While studying jazz singing at the Estonian Academy Of Music, Virva Immonen founded the group with four Estonian musicians in 2014. In addition to jazz expression, pop-sensitivity and versatile musical influences are very much present in the quintet's music. The members' backrounds vary from progressive and modern music to pop and funk. With the lyrics as a centre point, the group crafts its musical world with a skillful sense of drama.

Virva Quintet's debut album "Fly" holds strong messages from an upcoming songwriter. It introduces an exiting new voice to the Finnish and Estonian jazz scenes.

Virva Quintet Live
19.2. Helsinki - Allotria
20.2.Tallinna - Philly Joe's
7.5. Helsinki - Kansallisteatteri, Lavaklubi

Contact:
Tapio Ylinen / Eclipse Music
ylinen.tapio@gmail.com


www.eclipse-music.net
http://virvaquintet.com/

Download cover graphics here

Promotional photos by request:
virvaquintet@gmail.com

CD Distribution:
Supersounds Music
www.supersounds.fi
myynti@supersounds.fi

ESTONIA: Maigroup-You (2015)

 

Second studio album consisting of 10 original compositions by the bassist and the band leader Mai Agan. Her music is very confessional and fragile under the surface of strong melodies, beautifully crooked harmonies and hip grooves.

Mai Agan (born 1988) is an Estonian electric bass player, composer and arranger. Her tireless work ethic, astonishing creativity, open-mindness as a musician and versatility has raised her name among Scandinavian top musicians. Agan is hailed as a stylistic chameleon, moving effortlessly from pop and funk to jazz and blues. Agan is mostly known for her work with Estonian pop sensation KERLI, Swedish singer-songwriter Linnea Henriksson and her own jazz-fusion group MaiGroup that she formed in 2010 from the most remarkable Swedish young musicians. Agan has also collaborated with Håkan Broström, Carola Häggkvist; Philip Hamilton (Mike Stern “Voices”, Pat Metheny Group), Anders Widmark, Tiit Paulus, Lembit Saarsalu, Tönis Mägi, Ain Agan, Riho Sibul, Jaak Johanson, Toomas Rull, Teele Viira, Doug Seegers, Anders Johansson, Magnus Lindgren, Stockholm Strings, Norrbotten Big Band etc. In 2012 she joined “Estonian bass maffia” Aces of Basses. In November 2013 she was recording in Turin, Italy, with Alessia Mattalia (Mattalia appears on Jeff Beck’s album “Emotion & Commotion” 2010). Back from Italy Agan joined Swedish popstar Linnea Henriksson’s band and toured extensively in Scandinavia 2014 and beginning of 2015. Back from touring, she is again focusing on her own music, but remains very much in-demand. In June 2015 she joined one of the most accomplished big bands in Sweden - New Places Orchestra, led by Swedish saxophone legend, composer & arranger Håkan Broström. Discovering musical kindred spirits in each other - Mai and Håkan formed a new jazz-fusion group Agan/Broström Spirit together and their debut concert at Stockholm Jazz Festival 2015 was ranked as no 1 highlight by Svenska Dagbladet and it was recorded by the Swedish Radio.

Mai was born and raised in Kuressaare, on an island Saaremaa, Estonia. She played the violin for 8 years and first touched the bass at the age of 16. It was a moment of recognition. Estonian “Jazz King” Tiit Paulus became her new teacher in 2004 and they played together in a band 2+2=5. Agan started playing with the great masters in an early age since Tiit Paulus often invited his friends to play with 2+2=5 (Ain Agan, Lembit Saarsalu, Jaak Sooäär etc). 2007-2010 she continued her studies in Georg Ots Tallinn Music School where Raul Vaigla became her teacher. He had been Mai’s favorite musician for years (he still is!) so these years with Mr. Vaigla were extremely inspiring. He has stayed by her side as a good friend and a supporter. 2010-2011 she studied at Skurups Folkhögskola, 2011-2014 The Royal College of Music in Stockholm and right now is continuing her studies at the master program, under the supervision of local bass gurus Jan Adefelt, Micke Berglund and finally Palle Danielsson, perhaps most notable for his work done with Keith Jarrett from 1974-1979, becoming a member of his European quartet for that period.

In April 2010 Mai Agan won the best instrumentalist prize on Uno Naissoo Compostions Contest.

ESTONIA: Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar celebrates its 25th birthday.in 2014

TALLINN - Spring and Jazzkaar are inseparable. Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar is the biggest Jazz Festival in the Baltics, held from 1990. In 2014 the Festival celebrates its 25th birthday. Combining an interesting and unique program with bold solution, Jazzkaar’s team is able to create the best festival with the smallest budget in the Nordic countries, bringing the biggest and most interesting findings of the world’s jazz scene to Tallinn and Estonia. The ten-day festival has also the biggest number of concerts per year in Estonia with more than 3,000 performers from 60 countries.
“Nowadays, Jazzkaar is the star event of Estonian jazz, bringing the world’s best performers. The name of the festival recalls the Estonian folk party Jaskar; it also reminds us of the variety of colors in jazz music – like in the rainbow, which all can be put under the umbrella of jazz. Jazzkaar is the arc uniting musicians, audiences, different periods and styles of jazz,” says Anne Erm, Artistic Director of Jazzkaar.
The goal of the festival has always been the same: the introduction of music on as large a scale as possible, starting with avant-garde and ending with mainstream jazz, including also the more interesting styles of world music and blues.
This year, the main performers are soul-jazz talent Zara McFarlane from the UK, Japanese charming piano virtuoso Hiromi, American new-generation star vocalist Gregory Porter and the New Quartet of the legendary composer-sax player Charles Lloyd featuring Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Gregory Hutchinson. That concert is also a part of the maestro’s 75th birthday tour. For this occasion also a documentary of one of the most important and colorful musicians in the jazz world was made.
The first weekend of the festival will focus on young talents. The festival will be opened by Zara McFarlane Quintet from London; at Theatre NO99 Jazz Club perform musicians from Norway, Sweden and Estonia’s Hanna Paulsberg Concept, Heliotroop and MaiGroup. At Marina Pavilion the Ergo Jazz Session concert-series is continued by the German pianist Nils Frahm.
The best European jazz is offered by the French masters Andy Emler Trio, Michel Portal and Bojan Z, Austrian accordion-cello duo Klaus Paier-Asja Valcic; fashionable and magnetic Hildegard Lernt Fliegen from Switzerland; Kruglov – Sooaar Quartet and many others. The internationally acknowledged Italian trumpet virtuosos Fabrizio Bosso with his Quartet are playing to the Italian cult film “The Easy Life” (1962). Her fresh album “First Moments” will be presented by the marvelous Hedvig Hanson. World music is represented by Serbian guitar trio Balkan Strings and Portugese young fadista Claudia Aurora.
On Sunday the tradition of free concerts will be continued at unfamiliar locations in Tallinn Old Town. Young musicians from Georg Ots Music School will fill the streets and parks of Tallinn with vibrant music during the whole festival period. Meet them at the harbor, in the airport, shopping centers, streetcars and elsewhere!
On Friday and Saturday evenings the Marina Pavilion is transformed into a club with some really hot performers, such as Estonian Ultima Thule, American Naturally 7, some young club bands and DJs.
The 24th Jazzkaar takes place from April 19 – 28 at the specially built and unique Marina Pavilion at the Port of Tallinn grounds. Traditionally concerts also take place in other Estonian cities including Viljandi and Tartu, where smaller festivals also take place.
 
For more information on the event program, locations and tickets please visit: www.jazzkaar.ee
the baltic times
 

New Release: Sonograms (Labor Records LAB 7090) Street Date: February 26, 2013

Mysticism, mathematics, musical watercolors and virtuosity from Eastern Europe and Germany A Sonogram is a graphic representation of a sound from the physical world that cannot be represented in conventional musical notation. Labor Records’ new release of music from Central and Eastern Europe takes the traditional media of recorder consort, string quartet and solo piano and, with the aid of non-traditional musical notation, evokes a post-modern musical world of introspection, numerology and mysticism. A remarkable group of Eastern Europe composers is led by the Greek/French composer Yannis Xenakis whose legendary Evryali, one of his earliest works to be derived from mathematical processes and long considered nearly unplayable, is realized here in a dynamic virtuoso performance by the Bulgarian pianist Angela Tosheva. Two early works for winds by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, among his earliest music in the tintinnabuli technique that made him famous, are realized here for recorder consort; they conjure up a mystical Eastern world that is at once very ancient and very modern. Music by the German composer, Walter Steffens (the only Western European composer in the group) includes his interpretations of four watercolors by Paul Klee interpreted in performance by recorder virtuoso Benedikta Bonitz playing multiple instruments. Works by Bulgarian and Polish composers Gheorghi Arnaoudov, Georgi Minchev and Pawel Szymański round out this unusual and inspiring program. HIGHLIGHTS Eastern Europeans led by Yannis Xenakis whose legendary Evryali, long deemed nearly unplayabler, is realized here in a dynamic virtuoso performance by the Bulgarian pianist Angela Tosheva. Two early works for winds by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt (among his first music in the tintinnabuli technique that made him famous) for recorder consort. Four watercolors by Paul Klee interpreted in music by the renowned German composer, Walter Steffens, long known for his interpretations of visual artists, and performed by recorder virtuoso Benedikta Bonitz playing multiple instruments. TRACK LISTING Gheorghi Arnaoudov  (b. 1957) 1. Thyepolia (1997) 6:56 for tenor recorder and Khandjari (Tibetan drum with small bells) Pawel Szymański (b. 1954) 2. Two Studies (1986) 11:25 for piano Walter Steffens (b. 1934) 3. Ecstasy op. 2b (1936) 10:14 for string quartet Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) 4. Arbos (1977) 6:38 for 7 recorders and 3 triangles ad lib. Yannis Xenakis (1922-2001) 5. Evryali (1973) 11:06 CD is available from NAX for piano Walter Steffens 6-9. Four Watercolors after Paul Klee op. 63 (1991) 10:16 for solo sopranino, alto and tenor recorders Georgi Minchev (b. 1939) 10-14. Sonograms (1980) 16:55 Five Concerto Reminiscences for Piano Arvo Pärt 15. Pari Intervallo (1980) 3:55 for four recorders 1,2,4,6-9,15 – the original first recordings, first release 3, 10-14 – first CD release

CD Available From Naxos USA www.naxosusa.com

Labor Records Media Contact: Jim Eigo Jazz Promo Services T: 845-986-1677 E-Mail: jim@jazzpromoservices.com http://www.jazzpromoservices.com/

Alexey Kruglov and Jaak Sooäär Trio-Sea Colours (Solyd Records 2012)

Alexey Kruglov was born in Moscow region in 1979. He ia a Russian saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and poet. He is one of the leaders of the Moscow musical scene, the founder of the ensemble «Krugly Band». He performs his own instrumental music and directs plays to the poetry of Russian poets – Pushkin, Lermontov, Mayakovski, Block, Esenin, Visotsky, etc. 
For a saxophone player of such a relatively young age he has achieved a lot: he graduated from the Gnesin Russian Music Academy, he has won several prestigious competitions in Eastern Europe (e.g. «Crystal Note» in Riga, 2000) both as performer-improviser and composer, and performed at many European and Russian jazz and art festivals. He performed with symphony orchestras as well as small chamber music ensembles, with classical musicians (like Tatiana Lanskaya), folk and classical choirs and with many jazz musiacians. He plays with Fritz Hauser, Fourth Page group, Vladimir Tarasov, Vycheslav Ganelin, Jaak Sooaar, Arkady Shilkloper, Alexey Lapin, Oleg Yudanov, Vycheslav Gaivoronsky, Vladimir Volkov, German Lukianov`s «Kadans», Igor Shirokov, Sergei Starostin, Alexey Nadzharov. He played for a long time with Vladimir Chekasin. In 2004 he studied in USA at The Brubeck Institite – University of the Pacifiс and performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with Christian McBride Ensemble. He also played with Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz, Lisa Dillan, Eldar Dzhangirov, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Lovano, Katja Cruz and many others. He took part in Leo Records International Tour (2011) and organized Leo Records Festival in Russia (2012). As of April 2012 his discography consists of nearly 20 Cds.
Press:
«This is profoundly philosophical music. This young man might just be a genius.» (Duncan Heining, «Jazz Wise»,England, 2011)
«I have seen the future of jazz and his name is Alexey Kruglov» (Duncan Heining, «Jazz Wise», England, 2011)
«It is also extremely free of mind, with no distinctive patterns, harmonies or repeated phrases, but the trio manages to create a specific character for each piece, that shows a different shade or perspective on the same vision : free spontaneous playing, with folk and jazz elements, with an almost organic and spiritual feeling» (Stef, Belgium, 2010).
(Alexey Kruglov’a album) «Seal of Time» is exciting energy music deep in Free tradition of the Ganelin Trio. It reminds us that the Russian music scene is as challenging and free as ever.» («Cadence Magazine», New York, 2010).
«Alexey occasionally plays two saxes at once as well as numerous recorders at the same time, always to great effect. This is a consistently fascinating conversation between two master improvisers, one pretty young and the other an elder statesman. Although Alexey Kruglov is still pretty young, he has a strong tone on each sax and has a deep bag of ideas, sounds & styles to draw from. This is yet another stimulating conversation between two obvious masters of improv.» (Bruce Lee Gallanter, «Downtown Music Dallery», New York, 2011, the fragment from the review about Kruglov-Tarasov`s duo)
«After listening to this strikingly imaginative avant-jazz program, it is clear that Kruglov possesses a dynamic persona, in concert with a seemingly endless array of guileful musical concepts, centered on the title track which is one continuous piece. He crosscuts free-jazz improvisation with John Cage-like treatments and dysfunctional classicism.» (Glenn Astarita,«Allaboutjazz», USA, 2011).
Jaak Sooäär was born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1972. In 1994, he graduated from the Music College in Tallinn and in 2001 - from the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. Since 2001, he has taught guitar at the Jazz Music Department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, since 2004 acted as the head of the department and in 2010 was elected to work as a professor .
Sooäär’s first concerts (all over the Soviet Union) took place as a member of the Estonian Boys’ Choir in which he started singing at the age of seven. Since 1989, he has been active on the Estonian jazz and pop scene, playing guitar literally with everybody of note.
Since the late 1990s, Sooäär has performed with many internationally known jazz musicians, including Tony Allen, Conny Bauer, Han Bennink, Raoul Björkenheim, Eric Brochard, Gavin Bryars, Kent Carter, Pierre Dørge, Arkady Gotesman, Mikko Innanen, Aske Jacoby, Anders Jormin, Andrei Kondakov, Dave Kikoski, Alexey Kruglov, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Ramon Lopez, Ron McClure, Karlheinz Miklin, Liudas Mockunas, Jari Perkiomäki, Etienne Rolin, John Schröder, Harri Sjöström and Petras Vyshniauskas, and has been active in several international bands, including The Dynamite Vikings, Erdmann/Sooäär Dessert Time (1st prize at international Peer Gynt Improvisation Contest in Pärnu, Estonia, in 2001), Mockunas-Pasborg Project, Free Tallinn Trio, Tuule Kann-Jaak Sooäär andAlmost Zebra (3rd place at the 5th European Improvisation Tournament in Poitiers, France, in 2001). In May 2006 Sooäär performed as guest soloist with WDR Big Band (Germany).
In 1999, Sooäär toured with The European Jazz Youth Orchestra and, in 2003, took part in the EBU Big Band in Istanbul, Turkey. One of his Estonian groups, Eesti Keeled, was given the Estonian Music Award as the best etno/folk artist both in 2003 and in 2005. In 2007 Sooäär was the first jazz musician to get Estonian Annual Jazz Prize and the same year he also recieved annual prize of Estonian Culture Endownment (Eesti Kultuurkapital). He played at Leo Records International Tour (2011).Jaak Sooäär appears on nearly 20 jazz CDs.
cdbaby

ESTONIA: 23rd Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar 2012

23RD TALLINN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL JAZZKAAR 2012 MOVES TO THE SEASHORE!

The sun rising higher and the days growing longer are always sure signs that the time of Estonia’s biggest jazz party, Jazzkaar, is drawing ever nearer. Running from 20-29 April, this year’s Jazzkaar has a brand new home by the sea – the custom built Marina Pavilion on the Tallinn Harbour grounds. The elegant 1170 m2 pavilion, accommodating 1000 listeners, and its surroundings – the cosy cafes, exhibitions, recreational areas – make for a groovy festival environment, a great place to enjoy the combination of cool music and seaside vibes.

The headliners of Jazzkaar 2012 are the Jan Garbarek Group feat. Trilok Gurtu (Norway-India), Lizz Wright (USA), The Brand New Heavies (UK) and Amadou & Mariam (Mali). Besides the capital city, Tallinn, the festival will visit sixteen other towns in Estonia. The opening concert of Jazzkaar 2012 will feature the world music group Amadou & Mariam, who are currently touring their new album in Europe. The superstars of the band, two blind Mali-born musicians have sung themselves into the hearts of hundreds of thousands of listeners all over the world.

The first weekend of Jazzkaar 2012 will focus on young performers and the younger listeners – the smallest music-lovers included. Our foreign partners, the nomadic jazz festival 12 Points will present three emerging European jazz bands: Kaja Draksler Acropolis Quintet (Slovenia), Elifantree (Finland-Sweden) and MeTal-O-PhoNe (France). The musically minded kids will receive a fabulous gift from the lovely Danish band Djanzz, who will take the children and their parents on a fantasy trip. On Sunday, 22 April, Jazzkaar will make a tour of one of Tallinn’s most idiosyncratic and colourful districts, Kalamaja, where there are many intriguing places to discover and explore – free of charge! And the Marina Pavilion will also host a free concert by the new and unique Folk Orchestra.

Estonian musicians, as usual, will be performing a number of fascinating projects. There’s the Estonian Vocal Gala with 10 wonderful female singers. Tõnis Mägi will appear with a big blues band. The best of Estonia’s bassist will form the Aces of Basses, etc. The festival also presents the Young Jazz Talent 2011, Joel Rasmus Remmel with his trio, also Oleg Pissarenko, Jaak Sooäär, Raivo Tafenau, Meelis Vind, Villu Veski and many others. 

European modern jazz at its most fascinating will be represented by such bands as Das Kapital (Germany-France-Denmark), Tingvall Trio (Germany), The Flow (Austria), Jo Stance (Finland), Vigleik Storaas Trio (Norway), and of course this year’s main attractions and superstars – the Jan Garbarek Group (Norway) featuring the famous Indian percussion guru Trilok Gurtu, and the legends of British club music The Brand New Heavies. The homeland of jazz, the United States, is represented at the festival by several stars. Firstly, one of the world’s top-notch alto sax players, Rudresh Mahanthappa, performs a program inspired by Indian music called Samdhi. Secondly, the highly sought-after and much loved bass player – and recent Grammy recipient – Christian McBride will put in an appearance. And thirdly, there’s the young velvet-voiced charming singer Lizz Wright.

Together with the Estonian Jazz Union and the festival’s golden sponsor, Elion, Jazzkaar will announce the recipients of the Estonian Jazz Awards 2012. The Estonian Jazz Awards will be given out for the sixth time.

Over the course of the festival, young musicians from the Georg Ots Music School will fill the streets and parks of Tallinn with vibrant music. You will see and hear them at the harbour, the airport, several shopping centres, on the streetcars and elsewhere! Young talents will also take part in the matinees at the Theatre NO99 Jazz Club, the Jazz Painting project and other exciting festival events.

In 2012, in cooperation with the Enterprise Estonia (EAS), Jazzkaar launches a jazz tourism project, offering special festival packages to music lovers from abroad.

The festival events will be covered by volunteer reporters and photographers; many concerts will be broadcast live by the Estonian National Broadcasting. Jazzkaar collaborates with the following festivals in our neighbour countries: April Jazz (Finland), Rigas Ritmi (Latvia) and Kaunas Jazz Festival (Lithuania).

The Tallinn International Festival Jazzkaar is supported by the City of Tallinn, the Estonian Cultural Endowment, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, foreign institutions and local partners. The golden sponsor of Jazzkaar is Elion; the main sponsors are Eesti Päevaleht and ERGO. Among the sponsors are the Estonian Air (official flying partner), Aktaprint, Tallink and Info-Auto. Jazzkaar’s partners are Clazz, RGB, Tallinn Harbour et al. The official accommodation partner of the festival is MyCityHotel.

The official address of the Marina Pavilion is Sadama 25/4, Tallinn. The Pavilion will be set up in cooperation with Jazzkaar’s production partner, RGB, and the Tallinn Harbour.

ESTONIA: Musician of the year: jazz composer and saxophonist Siim Aimla

The music editors at Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) picked composer and saxophonist Siim Aimla as Musician of the Year.
The award will be presented to Aimla at a ceremony in Tallinn on January 8 – an event broadcasted live on ERR radio and website.
The Tallinn-born, 38-year-old Aimla, who is also a music professor and conductor of several big bands, was cited as a huge contributor to development of jazz music in Estonia. Besides collaborating with a host of renowned local musicians, Aimla has worked side by side with international artists such as Randy Brecker and Joan Foulkner.
During last year's Youth Song and Dance Celebration, Aimla took the baton to conduct the festival's "Rock Choir."
The ERR Music Editors' Choice will be awarded for the 30th time, with past winners including musicians Ivo Linna (2009), Tõnis Mägi (1997) and composer Erkki-Sven Tüür (1996).

Ingrid Teesalu

ESTONIA: Christmas Jazz 2011 Estonia Nov 24 - DEc 10, 2011

The Christmas Jazz Festival has a delightful program of concerts, in clubs and churches. Preformers come from as far as America and Spain.


The event will start on November 28th with Ingrid Lukas at the Town Hall. This singer-pianist brings together Estonian folk music with pop and jazz.


Andres Mustonen and the Crossover Quartet will perform December 3rd at Kumu and December 4th at Tartu`s St John`s Church. The quartet believes that Baroque and Viennese classics lack the energy of rock and jazz improvisation.


The musicians: Spanish flamenco artist Ana Salazar,  French vocal group Voice Messengers and Britt Quentin, who will perform with Estonian Voices.
website

ESTONIA/FRANCE: Estonian-French Duo Releases Debut Album

The Estonian-French experimental jazz duo Rouge Madame introduced their debut album with a gig in Paris on October 7, the opening day of the Estonie Tonique culture festival held in France.

Estonian-born singer and actress Lembe Lokk together with a native French songwriter and film director Jean-Christophe Onno established the band almost two years ago.

Read more:

website

ESTONIA: Tallinn Jazz Weekend Brings Together European Promoters, Critics

The general assembly of the European Jazz Network brings over 100 jazz concert organizers and critics to Tallinn from September 23 to 25.
The network is one of the largest of its kind uniting a total of 78 jazz organizations in 24 European countries. During the meeting, participants will discuss issues related to music education and its relevance on the current job market, as well as the role of social media in organizing jazz events.
The assembly is part of the Tallinn Jazz Weekend festival that features performances by 14 bands, both local and foreign.
The three-day Jazz Weekend will be kicked off by the world renowned UK-born composer and pianist Django Bates, who will take the stage in Tallinn and Viljandi with a 20-member orchestra consisting of top Estonian musicians.
The jazz festival together with the assembly is part of the European Capital of Culture 2011 program and is hosted by the Estonian Jazz Union and organizers of the nation's biggest jazz festival, Jazzkaar.
SOURCE

Raivo Tafenau Quintet - Estonian Jazz Gala 2008