Sinikka Langeland – Trygve Seim – Markku Ounaskari

“Mountain jazz” is an expression often used to describe much of Norwegian jazz. Sinikka Langeland is a leading practitioner of what might be loosely dubbed Finnish “forest jazz”. Since her debut in 1994 she has performed traditional music based around Finnish forest culture on the country’s national instrument, the kantele.

Forfatter: HK

Manfred Eicher, the man behind the illustrious German label ECM, has produced a number of Langeland’s releases, including her critically acclaimed album The Magical Forest. Her music can be described as clean sounding with hypnotising rhythm and a soundscape of many nuances. The music the trio will perform spans many centuries and genres, and not least, the spiritual realm and that of nature.

Langeland’s co-musicians are among Scandinavia’s finest, with saxophonist Trygve Seim and Finnish drummer Markku Ounaskari having both worked with her for many years. Together they have developed a fine-tuned sound. Seim is a highly sought after and talented performer, due to release a new album on ECM entitled Helsinki Songs with his own band this autumn. Ounaskari is one of Finland’s most well recognised and respected jazz musicians. He has worked together with a large number of international greats such as Tomasz Stanko, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler and Norway’s own Petter Molvær.

Line-up: Sinikka Langeland – vocals, kantele; Trygve Seim – saxophone, Markku Ounaskari – drums