Description
TRACKLIST:
(A)
1. Kiss of Goodbye (lyrics & music: Noppari) – vocals: Kadi Vija – 5.23
2. Hearts (Music: Noppari & Pesonen, lyrics. Pesonen) – vocals.: Kadi Vija – 5.01
(B)
3. Should Have Seen It Miles Before (lyrics & music: Noppari) – vocals: Kadi Vija – 3:53
4. Follow the Wistful Rhythm (lyrics & music: Noppari) – vocals: Kadi Vija & Jori Pesonen – 5.59
Tuomo Noppari – guitar & compositions
Teemu Vänskä – keys.
Features
Kadi Vija – vocals
Mikael Myrskog – piano
Anssi Tirkkonen – drums
Teemu Åkerblom – bass
Ilkka Arola – flygelhorn
Max Zenger – flute
Production: Teemu Vänskä / Hiptone productions
Released: 2020
‘N STUFF
Formed by Tuomo Noppari, Jori Pesonen and Teemu Vänskä the collective entails many of the best musicians of their generation. However, the music looks to the past and takes its main influences from Brazilian music and Bossa Nova’s longstanding traditions.
The band received high praise for their debut release “Breathe” in 2015 and nominated for the Scandinavian Soul Music Awards for Newcomer of the Year and Best Single of the Year. For the new EP, the ensemble has picked just the right personnel for each song to execute the main three protagonists’ vision. The Kiss of Goodbye EP has no less than 18 musicians involved, including a string quartet and a chorus with seven singers. Vocalist Kadi Vija brings her considerable talents into the music.
Staring off in the late ’90s in Pori (the venue of Finland’s most significant annual jazz festival) Noppari and Pesonen made music together in various fusion, funk and soul bands. While studying music, they met Vänskä and Vija and formed a strong musical connection. Noppari’s exchange year in Brazil in 2011 cemented the musical path the collective was to take.
“I became fascinated with Brazilian music’s rhythmic aspects and how it could be incorporated with the harmonic world of jazz and massive arrangements. This was the basis for the “Breathe” single that Jori and I wrote together. When the single was so well received we decided to continue with the same approach” says Noppari about the formation of the band’s sound.