Album lore

Land of Real Men, released in 2019 on Finland’s We Jazz label, finds the Ilmiliekki Quartet joined by a host of notable Finnish jazz figures including Verneri Pohjola (trumpet), Tuomo Prättälä (keys), Antti Lötjönen (bass), and Olavi Louhivuori (drums). The eight tracks unfold with a fluid interplay that nods to free jazz while rooted firmly in the Nordic jazz tradition.The album’s title track exemplifies the group’s approach: spacious yet intricate, with a supple rhythm section underpinning lyrical horn lines. Throughout, the ensemble navigates shifting textures and moods with an assured touch, making this release a noteworthy signal in contemporary Finnish jazz’s ongoing canon.

Album lore

Land of Real Men, released in 2019 on Finland’s We Jazz label, finds the Ilmiliekki Quartet joined by a host of notable Finnish jazz figures including Verneri Pohjola (trumpet), Tuomo Prättälä (keys), Antti Lötjönen (bass), and Olavi Louhivuori (drums). The eight tracks unfold with a fluid interplay that nods to free jazz while rooted firmly in the Nordic jazz tradition.The album’s title track exemplifies the group’s approach: spacious yet intricate, with a supple rhythm section underpinning lyrical horn lines. Throughout, the ensemble navigates shifting textures and moods with an assured touch, making this release a noteworthy signal in contemporary Finnish jazz’s ongoing canon.