Piirpauke returns to Finnish national romanticism with flair

Piirpauke, the pioneer of Finnish world music since their establishing in 1974, has renewed its line-up and released a new album, Koli(Rockadillo). In a way, the new album is a return to the group's roots as a jazz band playing Finnish folk songs. The central figure of the band,Sakari Kukko (saxes, flutes, piano) and a long-time Piirpauke member Ismaila Sane(percussion) have here been joined by top-class jazz musicians Eerik Siikasaari (double bass) and Rami Eskelinen (drums), as well as rock guitarist Jukka Orma. 

The music on the album comes partly from the roots of the Finnish pelimanni music, partly from the classical compositions from the time of the Finnish national romanticism – all performed with a strong multicultural soundscape in a true Piirpauke style. Four of the album's tracks are original compositions by Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957), including the highly popular concert pieceValse Triste. The arrangements are made with sense of style, closely following and respecting the original works but also making them full-bodied Piirpauke pieces in their own right.

http://www.fimic.fi/

http://www.rockadillo.fi

http://www.rockadillo.fi/piirpauke/