Sami Linna Quartet previews new album with swingin' "Mode For Tomorrow"

Guitar slinger Sami Linna is backed by a solid organ combo featuring Jukka Eskola's Hammond hero Mikko Helevä. 

After expanding its roster and musical scope into jazzier terrains with Jukka Eskola Soul Trio, Finland's venerable Timmion Records now introduces Sami Linna Quartet. Led by guitarist Linna, this international group of elite players paves way for their full length album with the single release ”Mode For Tomorrow” b/w ”Umoya”.

The single hints to what’s to come with a deep modal tune referencing 1970’s spiritual jazz on the A-side, and groovy soul jazz on the flip. You can immediately hear that these compositions have been crafted with thorough understanding of the tradition, but with passion and capability to breath them to life in this modern age.

The lineup is truly something to write home to. Linna himself has over 20 years of experience working in the Finnish jazz scene, same as saxophonist Jussi Kannaste. Organist Mikko Helevä plays in Jukka Eskola Soul Trio as well as a host of other top jazz groups. But it is drummer Dana Hall who’s is the most seasoned member of this experienced troupe. Namedropping might seen lame, but in this case we’ll take it there as Hall has worked side to side with Joe Henderson, Kenny Barron, Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Charles, Horace Silver, and Benny Golson to name a few.

Both tracks get a single edit treatment here and the full length versions will be available on the coming album. This is not jazz for the faint hearted, but the real deal meant for real people. Check out "Mode For Tomorrow" below and grab a copy of the Timmion seven-inch right here.  

Introducing the Jukka Eskola Soul Trio

The new album from Finnish jazz trumpeter Jukka Eskola – released by Timmion on May 5 – is already sold out on vinyl.

One of the most prominent and busy players on the Finnish jazz scene at the moment is trumpeter Jukka Eskola. After over a decade of adventures in different spaces of jazz – from the dance floor burn of The Five Corners Quintet to the raw expressive modes of Mikko Innanen's small big band, Jimi Tenor's cosmic jazz and his own prime CTI styled solo recordings – Eskola takes things back to basics with his latest project, the Jukka Eskola Soul Trio.

Composed of the 38 year-old Eskola on trumpet and fluegelhorn, Mikko Helevä on organ and the Stance Brother #1 Teppo "Teddy Rok" Mäkynen on drums. When Helevä needs to take a break from the bass pedals, the trio gets assistance from Ville Herrala on the upright. In addition, tenor saxophonist Timo Lassy features on “Hong Tong” and “Subterranean Variations” and Magnus Lindgren spices the groove with his flute on "Railyard Boogie".

The Soul Trio's self-titled debut album for Finland's Timmion Records will be a delight for lovers of mid-60's American soul jazz from labels like Blue Note and Prestige. At parts the approach is even less sophisticated as on "For Anne Lee", where the group proceeds to lay down some of the rowdiest bar room hard bop. Creating an extra air of hipness, the package is completed with European Clarke-Boland-ish touches that hint at reinvention more than simple emulations. This record carries all the right ingredients for a grade A contemporary jazz album: virtuoso players, who know the heritage as well as how to play around it, and who know how to work as an entity surrendering strictly to the groove.