| New Orleans Helsinki Connection ~ Paradise On Earth | |
| " -- Another collaboration from this diverse ensemble once again ferrying jazz lovers to a better understanding of musical intimacy. -- " | |
| Click here for liner notes | Click here for purchase links |
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It’s been 8 years since their debut album At Last and now; another collaboration from this diverse ensemble once again ferrying jazz lovers to a better understanding of musical intimacy. Along with a fresh set of titles, the band’s lineup is also slightly augmented on this new, captivating recording. Finnish based drummer and co-founder of the group, Thomas Rönnholm, doesn’t appear amongst the personnel this time. But co-founder, bandleader, trombonist Katja Toivola is an irrefutable force along with vocalist Tricia Boutté. These three talented individuals came up with the idea of putting the group together when they were members of a Helsinki based band, back in 2001. Toivola and Rönnholm being natives of Helsinki and Boutté from New Orleans figured since they performed so often together throughout Finland that it might not be a bad idea to dub their latest venture the New Orleans Helsinki Connection. |
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New Orleans Helsinki Connection ~ Paradise On Earth (SONOP 0714) 1.
Paradise On Earth (Katja Toivola /
Teosto ~ Arranged by Leroy Jones ~ 2010)
6:10
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On this new album,
listeners will also delight in the musical excellence of trumpeter and vocalist
Leroy Jones, guitarist Todd Duke, pianist Paul Longstreth and bassist Nobu
Ozaki. The additional players to augment this superb set of music include
outstanding performances from vocalist Yolanda Windsay, bassist Mitchell Player
and drummers extraordinaire Jerry Anderson and Gerald French. The first track, Paradise On Earth, is an original composition from Katja that denotes a noble salute to the city of New Orleans, her current residence. It opens with an instrumental chorus followed by a soulful deliverance from Tricia, with brilliant 16 bar passages being traded between trumpet, trombone, piano and guitar, with an ensuing vocal out chorus. Clever lyrics, along with a catchy melody comfortably place this song amongst the great jazz standards. Within the quintet format, the band revs it up with an exuberant instrumental I Found A New Baby, Gerald getting to show off his chops during a nifty shout chorus that follows Mitch’s swinging bass solo. They bring back Todd’s stellar guitar work on track 3 for a superb rendition of Fidgety Feet, a traditional jazz classic. Both of these two previous tracks are strong, with delightful interplay between trumpet and trombone during the ensemble sections and all these musicians render unfeigned solos that stimulate desirable anticipation. Tricia returns with a sassy but humorous version of the standard There’ll Be Some Changes Made, with indelible solos from Paul and Leroy. Track 5 will place you in a pensive mood with Tricia’s peerless, evocative interpretation of Stardust. Along with Leroy’s silky smooth flugelhorn solo, Paul’s piano and Mitch’s bass accompaniment is incomparable. After You’ve Gone is offered new life with the Connection’s newfangled arrangement and Tricia exiting the set following four pristine performances.
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The band reverts to
the quintet format and a more traditional jazz genre with a jovial Oh
Didn’t He Ramble, rendering Leroy some vocal duties, with Katja and rhythm
section consisting of guitar, introducing Nobu on bass and Jerry on the drums.
Paul and Gerald are back on track 8 where they strike up a boppish cover of Way
Down Yonder In New Orleans, with a couple of frolicsome vocal choruses from
Leroy. The band stays within that traditional vein with their next selection, We'll
Understand It Better By And By,
which introduces the preeminent voice of Yolanda. Track 9 also brings Jerry back
to the drum set. Bessie Smith would be flabbergasted at how Yolanda skillfully
belts out one of her old signature pieces, Baby Won’t You Please Come Home,
on track number 10. Accompanied by guitar, bass, drums and flugelhorn, before
she exits, her vocal prowess simply blows you away with a breathtaking
performance of My Funny Valentine. As this awesome set of music nears the
end, the NOHConnection takes you down to Brazil with Caipirinha da
Lapa, a new instrumental penned by Leroy to salute one of the band’s
favorite destinations. Track number 13 gears up with an invigorating arrangement
of High Society. Slick interplay once again between trumpet and trombone,
rousing solos from all, with echoes of Alphonse Picou’s seminal clarinet solo.
On the final track of 14 the band swings out and ends on a high note with a
vivacious China Town. Listening to the
New
Orleans Helsinki Connection’s new CD Paradise On Earth brought me
to a place or space that can undeniably be defined as paradise, even if only for
an hour and some change. If you’re a NOHConnection fan, owning this
musical treasure is a must. What a great set of music! ~ Joseph Daniel
Album
liner
notes by Katja Toivola The
NOHC was formed in the summer of 2001 and has since its inception in some ways
been paradise on earth among the other bands that each of us play. We don't get
to play together as often as we would like but when we do, all the pieces just
seem to click together, wonderful musical things happen intuitively and the gigs
(and recording sessions) are tons of fun. Along the years the band has become a
family, we may not see each other as often as we would like but when we do, it's
like no time has passed since the last reunion. The
musicians and the concept of this recording are slightly different from NOHC's
first CD "At Last", from 2004. During the years we have had the
fortune to work with many great "subs" some of whom are now featured
on the record. Most distinguishably you will notice a change behind the drums.
Thomas Rönnholm, the groups original drummer who was unable to join us this
time due to his extremely busy work schedule in Finland, has been replaced by
some of New Orleans' finest: the great Gerald French and Jerry Barbarin
Anderson, one of New Orleans' best kept secrets. We
are also featuring two bass players: Nobu Ozaki who is NOHC's original bassist
and Mitchell Player who has done most of the touring with us due to Nobu's high
demand in New Orleans. There are also some changes in the vocal front. Tricia
has been living in Norway for several years and in her absence we have had the
great pleasure and privilege to have Yolanda Windsay share the stage with us.
Now both of these wonderful vocalists appear on the CD. This
band has traveled to many a place and played some wonderful gigs in remote
locations like Brazil, Norway and Finland. Still, however nice it is to travel,
playing and recording in New Orleans, our paradise on earth, is always something
special for us. This
recording is a love song to New Orleans, its culture, its residents, and the
timeless music they have created. Most of the songs on it were composed in the
first two decades of the 20th century, yet they are still fresh and meaningful
now, almost a hundred years later. ~ Katja
Toivola
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Oh
New Orleans, oh what a town Following
a Second Line When
you go to the Tremé Oh
my city, the southern queen
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Monday
night at Donna's bar Creole
food that tastes so good The
oak trees that shade you Come
see the city of a million dreams
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New
Orleans Helsinki Connection ~ Paradise
On Earth
Tricia
Boutté ~ vocals on 1, 4, 5, 6 |
Recorded
and mixed by Tim Stambaugh at the Word Of Mouth Studio January 5 and 9,
February 28 and March 1, 2011 (C) and (P) Spirit Of New Orleans Productions
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The
NOHC would like to thank Tim, David, Shannon, Ada, Roya, Cordell, Esko, all
our families and friends, New Orleans' music community, all people who
support live jazz around the world and the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic.
Special thanks go out to the Threadhead Records Foundation
for their generous support!
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| Listen to samples and get your copy @ links below! | |||
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Support New Orleans' economy!! |
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