Critique – Aki Rissanen

Winner of the Emma Award, the Finnish Grammy for the best jazz album of 2016 (Amorandom) and nominee for the best jazz album in 2017 (Another North)

‘Aki is a tremendously musical, passionate and soulful person and has a high energy level. He is one of the best young pianists I have heard in years’. DAVE LIEBMAN

‘Rising star around Europe’ DOWNBEAT

”Advanced ideas with a street-sharp attack. Rissanen’s fine trio is a formidable force, with fresh musical intelligence to match flawless techniques.” THE GUARDIAN

”Aki Rissanen is the one to watch- Finnish pianist’s chameleonic virtuosity has seen him play with an enviable list of luminaries.. Rissanen is a musical storyteller, a jazz musician with something to say. In short, there’s a confidence in Aki Rissanen Trio’s playing that is borne out of mutual respect and can take this group far. They are shaping up to become an important band on the European scene” STUART NICHOLSON, JAZZWISE

*****

What The Critics Said about Divided Horizon:

*****

The album was in “the best jazz records of the year 2021” lists in Valonkuvia web magazine.

“Un magistral album” (A magical album) RADIO FRANCE FIP (FR) https://www.fip.fr/jazz/divided-horizon-les-mondes-multiples-et-envoutants-d-aki-rissanen-19072

“One unifying quality is that Rissanen’s fondness for relatively simple melodic beginnings, and use of repeated figures, makes the whole affair feel relaxed – and relaxing – even when he moves into greater complexity. LONDON JAZZ NEWS (UK) https://londonjazznews.com/2021/06/19/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon/

“Finland is on the world jazz map nowadays, and Aki Rissanen is, of course, a major contributor to its success. Divided Horizon is an exceptional album—even his best so far.” BEST OF JAZZ (UK) https://bestofjazz.org/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon/

“ “No other pianist will most probably release anything like this this year… (The album) is a huge artistic leap of creativity – and a five star solo album.” (Kukaan muu pianisti tuskin julkaisee tänä vuonna yhteissoinniltaan mitään tämän kaltaista: Aki Rissasen Divided Horizon on viiden tähden levy” HELSINGIN SANOMAT (FI) https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000008055476.html

“Rissasen laaja musiikillinen visio ja ainutlaatuinen äänimaailma tekevät tästä levystä ainutlaatuisen tuntuisen pianistin soololevyn -vuoden ehdottomia kärkijulkaisuja.” JAZZPOSSU (FI) http://rosvot.fi/jazzpossu/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon

“Divided Horizon” on niitä lopulta aika harvinaisia levyjä, joita kuunnellessa kuulija heti kokee olevansa jonkin erityisen äärellä. Niinpä se nousee Rissasen parhaiden albumien joukkoon.” VALON KUVIA (FI) https://www.valonkuvia.fi/blogi/divided_horizon/

“Levystä syntyy leikillisen ilotteleva vaikutelma, kun pianisti kaivaa soitteista freesiä sävystöä.” TURUN SANOMAT (FI) https://www.ts.fi/kulttuuri/5377708/Aki+Rissanen+taituroi+pianoa+kolmella+konstilla+ja+kaivaa+samalla+freesia+savystoa

“Aki Rissanen jatkoi erinomaisen soololevynsä Divided Horizon kappaleilla. Stream Linesin liveversiossa oli upeaa ikiliikkujamaisuutta ja monitasoista hallintaa.” Konserttiarvio. RONDO (FI)

“Satie for the 21st Century?” JAZZ WEEKLY (US) https://www.jazzweekly.com/2021/07/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon/

“Musiken som resulterar är lätt i steget, närmast eterisk, men kan också växa i styrka och bli nog så komplex. Den klassiskt skolade Aki Rissanen är briljant rent tekniskt och fångar många olika stämningar på skivan.” LIRA (SE) https://www.lira.se/skivrecension/divided-horizon/

“Rissanen opens a colorful treasure chest full of labyrinthine melodic twists and turns and tracked rhythms” JAZZTHING (DE) https://www.jazzthing.de/review/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon/

“The thrilling performance here is inspired by minimalism at a high level” JAZZ CRITIQUE MAGAZINE (JP)

“This album is a quintessence of Rissanen’s innate talent for creating impressive melodies and phrases, original harmonies and catchy compositions. “ JAZZPROBE (JP)

“A very good album that I recommend to fans of expressive playing as well as to lovers of ballads and full, melodic sound. The whole thing is worth listening to carefully, absolutely in its entirety and under pleasant conditions.” JAZZFUN (DE) https://www.jazz-fun.de/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon.html

“L’album a réussi le plus souvent à nous captiver grâce à la finesse du musicien et la qualité d’une prise de son qui a su capter magnifiquement les timbres du Steinway -faisant de ce CD un petit chef-d’oeuvre acoustique (The album manages to captivate the listener because of the finesse of the musician and the quality of the sound.. The cd is an acoustic masterpiece)” LE VIF (BE) https://focus.levif.be/culture/magazine/aki-rissanen/article-normal-1437329.html?cookie_check=1633263730

“The superb Finnish jazz pianist…a lovely album.” BBC 6 / Stuart Maconie (UK) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000z051

“With baroque austerity in expression and repetitive influences from minimal music, Rissanen’s emotionally spared pieces don’t overuse words and thus seem all the more meaningful and haunting. His touch is so light and springy, as if there were snow on the keys!” – STUTTGARTER NACHRICHTEN (DE)

“A very varied solo presentation with undreamt-of depths and heights” – JAZZHALO (BE) https://www.jazzhalo.be/reviews/cdlpk7-reviews/a/aki-rissanen-divided-horizon/

*****

What The Critics Said about Art In Motion:

*****

The album was in “the best jazz records of the year 2019” lists in Helsingin Sanomat, Jazzpossu, Valonkuvia and Finnish Music Quarterly magazines and Finnish national radio YLE broadcast.

*****

“Art In Motion finds the Rissanen trio moving in many directions, all of them interesting.” DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE, EDITOR’S PICKS (US)

“Past, present and future don’t collide but smash together in one happy jumble through this trio’s splendid third outing. The recording does indeed stay in constant motion, and the art is a stimulating kind indeed. 4 stars ” ALL ABOUT JAZZ (US)

“Rich interplay and themes and moods more than AABA formats.” JAZZ WEEKLY (US)

“The Rissanen trio is an increasingly distinctive and individual unit whose music is very much their own and transcends these comparisons. “Art In Motion” is an impressive statement from a band that has successfully synthesised its influences and which is at the peak of its creative powers. JAZZ MANN (UK)

“Rissanen presents a creative approach to the “new piano trio” school. It’s not about head-solo-head, but a more democratic and textural approach” JOE WOODARD (USA)

“He delves into the murky, shifting sounds of glitch-hop and the trip realms of arpeggiator, tucking them under the jazz umbrella with very convincing results. 4 stars” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (UK)

“A very inventive and tightly integrated piano trio – they sound as if they have been playing together for years” PETER SLAVID (UK)

“Aki Rissanen and his trio plays the best A-class jazz. The third album shows at first glance that the musical breakthrough continues toward a distinctive, very own combination of styles. HELSINGIN SANOMAT (FI)

“The trio’s album ended to be inventive with it’s form and dares to challenge the listener. 5 stars.” ILKKA (FI)

“Art is really in motion. 4 stars” SATAKUNNAN KANSA (FI)

“The trio sounds kinetic and proves that they don’t stay still but improve themselves tirelessly.” TURUN SANOMAT (FI)

“Aki Rissanen searches inspiration in an interesting manner from jazz, classical and electronic music. The trio fits in this perfectly 4 stars.” SOUNDI (FI)

“Aki Rissanen Trio’s debut Amorandom from 2016 won, among other things, an Emma, a Finnish Grammy, for best jazz album. The well-played and exciting music on Art in Motion will soon meet a similar fate.” LIRA (SE)

“les fondements d’une œuvre en trio composée de pièces riches en contrastes rythmiques.” CITIZEN JAZZ (FR)

“Titre d’ouverture de ce nouvel opus, “Aeropeans” est à l’image de celui-ci: il marque notamment par l’inventivité et les nuances de la batterie” LE GRI GRI (FR)

“Bright in its own way, in seven songs with style, grace and elegance with a wide range of moods” JAZZ THING (DE)

“Aki Rissasen trio on hioutunut eheäksi ja tasapainoiseksi yhtyeeksi, jonka musiikissa jazz ja klassinen pianomusiikki kohtaavat hienolla tavalla. Art In Motion on lähes mestariteos. 4,5 stars” KULTTUURITOIMITUS (FI)

“Each piece is based on a distinctive, thickened rhythm, changing dynamics and morphing and a powerfully graded motif” HIS VOICE MAGAZINE (CZ)

*****

What The Critics Said about Another North:

*****

The album was on ‘the best jazz record of 2017’ lists in Archaic Pop (UK), Argonauta Magazine (POR), Time Out (POR), Helsingin Sanomat (FI), Kohta Jazz (FI), Valon Kuvia (FI), Jazzpossu (FI)

*****

“In short, there’s a confidence in their playing that is borne out of mutual respect and can take this group far. They are shaping up to become an important band on the European scene” STUART NICHOLSON, JAZZWISE 4 stars RECOMMENDED (UK)

“These are three master musicians working in a classic jazz trio format who are constantly bringing something new to the table. The ‘Nordic’ piano trio has a particular approach to music-making. Rissanen and friends are far from what we have grown to expect from this genre and they are none the worse for that.” UKVIBE 5 stars (UK)

“The sparkling piano playing of classically-trained Finn, Aki Rissanen, is grabbing attention now on the world stage…” 4 stars BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (UK)

Révélation! “In the time when it’s harder and harder to find something new in the world of piano trios, this one is a fresh breeze.” JAZZ MAGAZINE (FRANCE)

‘’Finds Rissanen and his colleagues realising an increasingly interactive and individual group sound that demands that they be regarded as one of the world’s most exciting & distinctive piano trios.” 4 stars JAZZMANN (UK)

“Rissanen improvises with a tight drive over the keys. He chases you into surprising musical landscape while varying the intricate melodies. Another North is an album you’ll always discover new things, and Rissanen is undoubtedly a name you want to hear again.” DAGBLADET (NO)

“The music presented here covers a broad spectrum of moods ranging from cerebral reflection to visceral excitement, but all of it is universally engaging.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ 4 stars (UK)

“Aki Rissanen masters rhythms to make complexity accessible, and to balance the imbalance. The trio works perfectly. A treat for the ears. The entire album will capture your attention, from surprise to surprise, without repetition, without pretension, just perfectly, as Nordic people are known for. ARCHAIC POP 5 stars, best-of-2017 (UK)

“[…] eine seltsam konstruierte Maschine, deren Zahnräder, Pumphebel und Federn sich alle in einem eigenen Rhythmus bewegen […] diese akustische Apparatur bewegt sich kraftvoll und unbeirrbar vorwärts wie ein aufgemotztes Schneemobil. RONDO (DE)

“Of course, the record will go up to the Year selections for my 2017 list.” VALON KUVIA (FI)

“A fine new CD…shows the growth of the trio in no uncertain terms…” KEVIN LEGENDRE BBC RADIO 3 (UK)

“The sparkling piano playing of classically-trained Finn, Aki Rissanen, is grabbing attention now on the world stage…” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (UK)

“The door is now open…Aki Rissanen is heading towards large audiences…Another North will most likely lift Aki Rissanen to the European frontline….Another North is a determined and well conceptualized album.” SAVON SANOMAT (FI)

“The whole album is energetic, intermittently even hectic -in a good way. This is amazing and delightful after the last, quitely pastoral and peaceful album.” SOUNDI (FI)

“A Finnish jazz band doesn’t get much better than this.” HELSINGIN SANOMAT (FI)

“It’s in fact a shame that last year Aki Rissanen’s Amorandom was praised as the best jazz record of the year, because the new one is clearly better.” HUFVUDSTADSBLADET (FI)

“One of the strongest candidates for the year’s best jazz album is here.”JAZZPOSSU (FI)

“Rissanen, Lötjönen and Mäkynen seem to have achieved almost a telepathic ability to read each other’s minds. The trio is unified in fierce repetitive swarms as well as quiet waters. Another North might be the best domestic jazz album in 2017.” SATAKUNNAN KANSA (FI)

“The album is likely to act as a business card for the front rows of European jazz.” KESKISUOMALAINEN (FI)

“The swirling harmonies, rhythmic jets and the energetic, hungry groove – pianist Aki Rissanen’s (born 1980) trio’s Another North album is undoubtedly the most talented jazz in Finland right now.” HS NYT (blog) (FI)

“Another North is a fascinating album until its last chord.” KARJALAINEN (FI)

“With this album Aki has finally arrived!” STEREO (DE)

“The sparkling piano playing of classically-trained Finn, Aki Rissanen, is grabbing attention now on the world stage…” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE (UK)

“The music presented here covers a broad spectrum of moods ranging from cerebral reflection to visceral excitement, but all of it is universally engaging.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ (UK)

“There is a lot of music to enjoy here, from a lot of different angles.” LONDON JAZZ (UK)

This record commands your attention. JAZZ IN EUROPE (EU)

“Rissanen is a master pianist …I think the album Another North definitely offers more than the eye can see and perceive.” LIRA (SE)

“Really inspiring” GLOBAL MUSIC (DE)

“…this acoustic device moves powerfully and steadily forward like a souped up snowmobile.” RONDO MAGAZINE (DE)

“This is a true respect to this jazz creator, whose significance is beginning to be appreciated not only in Finland – a distinctive theme, rhythmic, entangled in thick musical matter, multi-layered, and finally in the form of a staccato interlacing of three excellent instrumental voices …” JAZZPORT (CZ)

“Spectacular!” MIKE CHADWICK (DJ, Manager UK)

*****

What The Critics Said about Amorandom:

*****

”Advanced ideas with a street-sharp attack- Rissanen’s fine trio is a formidable force, with fresh musical intelligence to match flawless techniques.” THE GUARDIAN (UK)

”Aki Rissanen is the one to watch- Finnish pianist’s chameleonic virtuosity has seen him play with an enviable list of luminaries- and it’s only now that the pianist’s own distinct identity is emerging. Rissanen is a musical storyteller, a jazz musician with something to say.” STUART NICHOLSON, JAZZWISE MAY 2016 TAKING OFF FEATURE (UK)

“In a world of piano trios, a point of difference is simply essential. This particular trio, hailing from Finland and led by pianist Aki Rissanen, makes that difference clear from the outset. The key to this, and in addition to each of the musicians’ individual talents, is the group’s ability to change mood subtly and kaleidoscopically…the over-arching characteristic of this excellent album is its ability to consistently engage the listener, which it does with aplomb.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ (UK)

“The best jazz at the moment… Aki Rissanen has made the best jazz album of the year. Pianist exceeds himself with the most common instrumentation in jazz: the piano trio. HELSINGIN SANOMAT 5/5 (FI)

“Aki Rissanen has made his international breakthrough album… Rissanen’s melodic compositions and intricate ensemble trio-working are thrilling…The more personal and free approach makes the album different from traditional piano trio records” KAUPPALEHTI 5/5 (FI)

‘Distinctly Finnish with a unique flourish. Rissanen’s austere harmony, his folky melodies, the intensity of the trio’s interactions, added to the lingering sense of narrative, give Amorandom its own unique atmosphere. It has ended up sounding more original than many more ambitious trio projects. IRISH TIMES 4/5 (IE)

“The album draws an extraordinarily vivid landscape of ideas” JAZZTHING (DE)

“Displaying a distinctly oblique yet beautifully affecting jazz sensibility, Finnish pianist and composer Aki Rissanen’s Amorandom defines ‘the piano trio’ afresh in an album which effervesces with both spontaneity and unpredictability. It may well become one of the finest you’ll hear this year. Outstanding.” AP REVIEWS (UK)

“One of the most interesting releases in 2016” DISTRITO JAZZ (ES)

“This is a group that has something fresh to say, avoiding the clichés of both writing for film and of the piano trio format itself. Aki Rissanen Trio has very much developed a sound of its own. ” JAZZMANN (UK)

“Much of the material on the album utilises the stunning rhythmic freedom which the musicians are able to produce. Amorandom takes the elements of classic jazz which we know and love and blends them with impeccably executed modern rhythms. A five-star album!” JAZZ FROM YORK (UK)

“Contemporary piano, for sure, but not beyond comprehension – how could it be? it was composed for an animated film realised by, I quote, the grand old man of the Finnish animation scene, Antti Peränne. I want to see that film!” BEBOP SPOKEN HERE (UK)

“Aki Rissanen has already reached the first row of the pianists in Northern Europe, and with this CD his reputation will continue to rise.” NORDISCHE MUSIK (DE)

“The music on the album is based on the former Rissanen soundtrack to one experimental animated film and is strongly influenced not only dense jazz esprit a’la EST, but also minimalism, impressionism and classic Nordic lyricism. However, the resulting sound by the trio is absolutely unique! Breathtaking …” JAZZPORT (CZ)

“It’s a piano trio album that has continued to unfold with repeated plays, and Rissanen gives the other two members of the group space to spread out and develop ideas…” DAVID TRAHERNE BLOG (UK)

“Suprisingly excellent Finnish piano jazz album of the 2000’s…Rissanen accomplishes to transfer emotions in his music in a way, which is rare in jazz today. The esthetics and the level of expression in his music makes him a musician, which the Finnish jazz scene should be extremely proud of” KESKISUOMALAINEN, SAVON SANOMAT 5/5 (FI)

“Amorandom, the pianist Aki Rissanen’s album seems to be the piano jazz album of the year- if not THE jazz album of the year” KARJALAINEN 5/5 (FI)

“Amorandom, the album by Aki Rissanen is again an evidence that Finland belongs to the front row in jazz”SOUNDI 4/5 (FI)

“The listener has always the impression of a forward motion. Aki Rissanen and his fellow musicians convince with a very varied playing with unexpected suspense.“JAZZ HALO (BE)

“The pianist with prodigious technique is never intrusive but constantly seeking the complicity of his fellow travelers, giving us an engaging drive. He’s a new talent to love unconditionally!” ARGONAUTA MAGAZINE (IT)

“Aki Rissanen Trio’s album is a Finnish jazz classic”ILKKA, POHJALAINEN 5/5 (FI)

“The music flows effortlessly like solving a mathematical puzzle. One never gets tired with Amorandom” SATAKUNNAN KANSA 5/5 (FI)

“The music on Amorandom is personal and well thought-out and worth several listenings.” HUFVUDSTADSBLADET (FI)

“The trio confirms its place among the most significant piano trios… Multi-dimensional album without weak parts” VALONKUVIA 4/5 (FI)

“Absolutely fantastic album. The trio’s interplay allures us to listen to the album over and over again. This is Rissanen’s chance to breakthrough internationally… Amorandom is a mature and multi-faceted album, where the personalities of three experienced musicians come out very well complimenting each other” JAZZRYTMIT, JAZZPOSSU (FI)

“Truly a top album!” SALON SEUDUN SANOMAT (FI)

“For brain and heart- Rissanen’s canny music is rooted in the piano trio tradition but is nevertheless forward-looking. It’s a rich and rewarding sea of sounds that certainly activates the gray matter.” FINNISH MUSIC QUARTERLY (FI)

“The music is consistently direct and the tones are tight and up close, as if the microphones have dropped into the instruments and barred most of the room. It provides edginess, on what the suggestive power of minimalism, after all, is based.” LIRA (SE)

“The Finnish pianist Aki Rissanen has in recent years emerged as one of the most influential pianists in the Finnish jazz scene…”Amorandom” is a nice trio piano disk, and the three musicians with this have made the journey out into the wider world.” SALT PEANUTS (NO)

“Broodingly subtle piano trio!”LONDON JAZZ NEWS (UK)

“Aki Rissanen Trio gave one of the standout performances of the Jazz Finland Festival, with pianist Rissanen’s atmospheric compositions linked to the wall-sized animations from the movie Amorandom. The music was structurally sparse yet grooving, with bassist Antti Lötjönen’s lithe ostinatos and inventive drummer Teppo Mäkynen’s gently coursing pulses the perfect foil to Rissanen’s less-is-more lyricism.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ (UK)

“I really hope this album is a platform for Rissanen and his trio because they are doing really cutting-edge and more importantly enjoyable music. It keeps one engaged in every turn. Definitely a must buy!” SLICE OF JAZZ, RADIO CARDIFF (UK)