Album Picks: Timo Lassy Trio [We Jazz]

Tenor saxophonist Timo Lassy, one of Finland's leading jazz artists, is back with a new album release Trio on We Jazz Records.

The album introduces Lassy's new combo with bassist Ville Herrala and drummer Jaska Lukkarinen – both We Jazz Records roster artists on their own right. The new Lassy sound is tight, swinging, and funky, led by the strong and riff-ready sax of the tenor player. The new Lassy sound is tight, swinging and funky, led by the strong and riff-ready sax of the tenorman. That being said, the album's sound is not limited to that of the swinging trio. Lassy's new vision also brings in some subtle electronics (played by Lassy, Dalindèo frontman Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen and Ilmiliekki Quartet pianist Tuomo Prättälä) and lush strings performed by Budapest Art Orchestra as arranged by Finnish artist Marzi Nyman. It's a new sound for Lassy, but one which keeps true to his no-nonsense cookin' on the tenor.

This combination proves to be a winning one on the album, ranging from the more solemn moments on tracks such as Sunday 20 and Sointu to the all out groovers like Pumping C and Subtropical. The basic three cylinders of the band tenor sax, bass and drums, are strong throughout and the strings add air beneath the wings to really lift things off. Electronics are used as a tasty condiment, not taking over the main course but adding to it just right.

We began the process with the bare-bones trio but along the way, the sound started evolving into something else. That's how I like to work, anyway, while the trio can take this music to great lengths live, on the album I like to paint a fuller, more colorful picture sonically, Lassy explains.

From our Blog: SONG OF THE DAY: TIMO LASSY & TEPPO MÄKYNEN – CALLING JAMES (LIVE RECORDINGS)

Listen to Timo Lassy new album Trio: