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heikki sarmanto big band - everything is it - porter records - cd

Genre: Jazz

1. Marat (Suite In Four Parts): I - Introduction
2. Marat (Suite In Four Parts): II - The Pawn
3. Marat (Suite In Four Parts): III - The Player
4. Marat (Suite In Four Parts): IV - The Game
5. The Dream Of It
6. The Death

A nicely tripped-out session of progressive jazz from Finland! The record was produced in 1972 – and features the large group of pianist Heikki Sarmanto, who plays Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano on the set – leading a group who are clearly informed by the freer styles of the time, but who come together in beautiful formation to create a rich mix of electric and acoustic grooves!

There's a similar feel here to British and German sessions from the time – with fairly funky rhythm in parts, nice choppy reed parts on soprano and alto sax, and flowing piano lines in a very post-Bitches Brew kind of way – a mighty nice blend that's definitely at the strongest level we could hope for from the European fusion scene. Other players include Eero Koivistoinen, Juhani Aaltonen, and Esa Pethman on reeds, Bertil Lovgren and Ossi Runne on trumpets, Mircea Stan on trombone, and Pekka Sarmanto on bass. A track or two have vocals by Taru Valijakka – but most of the material is instrumental, with very long tracks, and solos that go pretty far out. Titles include "The Death", "The Dream Of It", and "Marat (Suite In Four Parts)". (Limited edition of 500.)