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NEW ORLEANS
HELSINKI CONNECTION
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" -- New Orleans Helsinki Connection, a diverse
musical troupe which adds a stylish, modern touch to the well seasoned
sounds of New Orleans -- " Aaron Lafont
New
Orleans Helsinki Connection is a group of New Orleans and Helsinki based
musicians that play traditional New Orleans jazz with a youthful 21st
century touch. Its members represent the very best of this style in their
homelands and have been playing together in various bands for years. In
the summer of 2002, a long time dream of a joint band finally became
reality. The band had a successful three-week tour in Finland.
In
the fall of 2003, New Orleans Helsinki Connection headed in to the studio,
and the aptly titled CD "At Last" came out in April 2004. Since
then, the NOHC has been often heard on the WWOZ jazz station and the CD is
available again after being out of print for some time. In August 2004,
the NOHC performed very successfully at Sildajazz Festival in Haugesund,
Norway, at Lahden Jazztori Festival in Lahti, Finland and at Storyville
Jazz Club in Helsinki, Finland.
Fall
2008 saw the NOHC performing extensively in Brazil (São Paulo, Brasília,
Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Aracaju, and Recife) and in 2011 the band
headed to the studio again. This time the recording features many of the
great "subs" that have played with the band along the years:
vocal duties are split between Tricia Boutté, Yolanda Windsay and
trumpeter Leroy Jones, bass duties between Nobu Ozaki and Mitchell Player
and drum duties between Gerald French and Jerry Anderson. Guitarist Todd
Duke, pianist Paul Longstreth and leader/trombonist Katja Toivola are of
course along for the ride as well. The new album, released in the spring
of 2012, is named "Paradise On Earth" after its title track, an
original penned by Toivola.
In
New Orleans, the band has been seen performing for example at the French
Quarter Festival, Satchmo Fest, Gentilly Fest, New Orleans Jazz &
Heritage Festival, Columns Hotel, National Historical Park, Donna's Bar
& Grill, and at Snug Harbor.
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The
band includes the following musicians:
T r i c i a B o u t t é, vocals
L e r o y J o n e s,
trumpet and vocals
K a t j a T o i v o l a,
trombone
T o d d D u k e,
guitar
P a u l L o n g s t
r e t h, piano
N o b u O z a k i,
bass
T h o m a s R ö n n h o l m, drums
Connection's
program consist mainly of New Orleans jazz classics like "Shake It And
Break It" and "Oh! Didn't He Ramble" but also includes gospel
and blues numbers, jazz standards, and original compositions.
Things
said about "Paradise On Earth" and "At Last"
"
-- Sweetness and light abound on the
latest release from New Orleans Helsinki Connection. [--] Helsinki Connection
is a living jazz embassy and "Paradise
on Earth" continues to build on this oddly suitable bond
between two cities. -- " Brian
Boyles, OffBeat 10/2012
" -- You hear
the warmth and the affection for the music and the experience of playing it
with good friends. [--] the band is a joyful experience -- " Alex
Rawls, MySpiltMilk 7/2012
"
-- The album as a whole
is a great cross-section of
the early days of
jazz and a fine example of the New Orleans style of playing it. In
the old days and now. Not
too clinical and technically
polished, but as
real and genuine. This recording also
helps to clarify the misconception
many listeners still have of New Orleans Jazz being
just plain "riverboat-dixie".
-- " Osku
Rajala, Jazzrytmit 6/2012
"-- the players
communicate like longtime friends throughout. Their Connection is
strong." Keith
Spera, The Times Picayune
4/2004
"-- a nice
meeting of friends that should please their many fans on both sides of the
pond." Geraldine
Wyckoff, OffBeat 5/2004
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to songs on iTunes
~
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CDs!
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