Vapaassa tilassa
This CD results from a collaboration between Johanna Juhola and Timo Alakotila, representatives of two generations of Finnish folk musicians. The position of folk music in Finland has fundamentally changed since the early 1970, when Timo Alakotila took the first steps on his succesful career. At the time folk music was perceived as mere jingles, lying on the margins of culture proper. It was unimaginable that anyone could make a living out of it. On the other hand, folk music was also thought of as something fixed, pure, primordial. The use of chromatic chords alone would have been improper!
The efforts of Timo and other folk music pioneers in the intervening decades have brought about clear results. Today the state of folk music in Finland is better than ever. Folk music attracts an ever-growing number of musicians, who create high-quality art that crosses over narrowly-defined stylistic barriers.
Johanna Juhola is at the forefront of this new generation of folk musicians. She has become well known in Finland as well as abroad for her personal musical style and collaborations with leading classical, jazz and electronic musicians. While 'folk music' is an unnecessarily narrow category for Johanna's and Timo's playing, their music still conveys a deep understanding of and respect for tradition.
The term 'fusion' (or cross-over) can have negative connotations: in order to bring together different musical elements and styles, musical quality becomes compromised and the end result is less than the sum of its parts. This is not the case here. Jazz-like improvisation and numerous other musical influences become a part of the living musical flow, blend together into an organic mix and create new tonal textures that defy categorsation – MUSIC.
Recorded by Marko Myöhänen
Mixed by Marko Myöhänen
Mastered by Svante Forsbäck, Chartmakers
1. Bali
Comp. Timo Alakotila, arr. Timo Alakotila, Aili Ikonen, Johanna Juhola.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Aili Ikonen: vocals
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
2. Sylvesteri
Comp. Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Johanna Juhola, Pekka Kuusisto.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
Pekka Kuusisto: violin
3. Vapaassa tilassa
Comp. Timo Alakotila, arr. Timo Alakotila, Jouni Järvelä, Johanna Juhola.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Jouni Järvelä: soprano sax
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
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4. Paluu
Comp. Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Johanna Juhola.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
5. Sheridan
Comp. Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Petri Hakala, Johanna Juhola, Roger Tallroth.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Petri Hakala: mandolin
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
Roger Tallroth: guitar
6. Yli siniviivan
Comp. Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Petri Hakala, Johanna Juhola, Roger Tallroth.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Petri Hakala: mandolin
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
Roger Tallroth: guitar
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7. Menuetti ja polska
Comp. Timo Alakotila, Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Jouni Järvelä, Johanna Juhola.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Jouni Järvelä: soprano sax
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
8. Åre polska
Comp. trad., arr. Timo Alakotila, Aili Ikonen, Johanna Juhola.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Aili Ikonen: vocals
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
9. Kevään ensimmäinen tango
Comp. Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Johanna Juhola, Pekka Kuusisto.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion
Pekka Kuusisto: viulu
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10. Heini
Comp. Johanna Juhola, arr. Timo Alakotila, Johanna Juhola.
Timo Alakotila: grand piano
Johanna Juhola: 5-row standard bass accordion