TIMO LASSY - Round Two »
Sax man Timo Lassy, one of the leading lights in the vivid Helsinki jazz scene has released his second album on Ricky-Tick Records. The LP, “Round Two”, is a trip deeper into Lassy’s world, complete with the contemporary vocal jazz great José James featured on two of album’s eight tracks.
The cast of characters on the new album is strictly A-list. The hard-hitting drummer on board, Teppo “Teddy Rok” Mäkynen also co-produced the album with Lassy, and the ensemble is larger than usually heard in both size and effect. Jukka Eskola on trumpet, Georgios Kontrafouris on piano, and Antti Lötjönen on bass are just some of the canny players heard on “Round Two”. The vocalist in residence in none the lesser in importance. In fact, he’s the go-to guy of 21st century vocal jazz, José James.
James, hailing from Minneapolis, connected with Timo Lassy whilst on the ranks of Nicola Conte’s jazz combo. During his brief visit to Helsinki, he both gave the album an undisputable edge on the two collabo tracks, ‘The More I Look at You’ and ‘Ya Dig’, and dipped into the local culture at large by visiting a traditional Finnish sauna.
Even with all the top-notch supporting cast, there is no denying that “Round Two” is Timo Lassy’s masterpiece thus far. Building on the success of his first album, Lassy takes big steps forward as a composer, arranger, producer, plus instrumentalist here. The material on the LP meanders effortlessly, while possessing the fingerprint of its creator all the way through. The able-bodied soloists have sufficient room for manouvre, while maintaining a compact and dynamic sonic presence at all times.
When considering the message of Timo Lassy and his music, one cannot omit the realisation of just how deeply immersed in innovation yet easily approachable his sound is. The roots of jazz with attitude are there, but the execution is distinctively 21st century without sounding selfrighteously retro.
This is pure high-quality jazz “post” the “modern” age.
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TIMO LASSY
Timo is a Helsinki-based sax player who likes his sound BIG. There’s the bluesy and soulful undertone of Mr Ammons or say Willis Jackson and the spiritual side of Pharoah Sanders and John Coltrane. As The Guardian’s John L. Walters put it: “Saxophonist Timo Lassy has storytelling approach to solos”. Baritone, tenor or flute, Timo will deliver. Timo has played in many groups, such as the Blue Note recording U-Street All Stars and the mighty Five Corners Quintet and has performed from New York to Istanbul.
Now it’s time see what the man is about.
Timo’s first single "African Rumble/High at Noon" was released a year ago and since that he has been recording his debut album titled "The Soul & Jazz of Timo Lassy", released in the Fall of 2007. These two tracks give a foretaste of what’s about to follow and we guarantee that you want to have more of this jazz/soulfood! As usual, the musicians are the cream of the crop with such names as Jukka Eskola on trumpet and Teppo "Teddy Rok" Mäkynen on drums. On the latin tinged "The Call" Timo’s heavy and rich baritone sound is backed by a horn section and we hear great solos from Timo and Giorgios. "Sweet Spot" is a more gentle little bossa number that show’s a more delicate and sophisticated side of this sax king who stands on the shoulder giants in order to see further.
LINKS:
www.timolassy.com
www.myspace.com/timolassy
