Juha Kujanpää – Old Ways, New Ways (Kuu Records KUUREC013, 2022)
Finnish keyboardist and composer Juha Kujanpää has been releasing a series of superb albums where jazz, progressive rock, world music and theater mingle with ease.
Kujanpää likes to experiment with different formats and lineups. On his new album “Old Ways, New Ways”, his core band is still the same, but the three folk fiddlers have been replaced with wind and brass instrument players.
Although “Old Ways, New Ways” still has that delightful Juha Kujanpää, the new configuration is less attractive to me. Regardless, there are several tacks where Kujanpää and core band deliver outstanding instrumental with a progressive rock edge. However, the wind and brass instruments inject a smooth jazz element that I find less appealing. It seems like an army of saxophonists inspired by Kenny G have infiltrated all sorts of bands and genres, and I see less diversity in sounds.
The album also features wonderful wordless vocals and kantele, a mesmerizing folk instrument that combines well with the fusion of progressive rock and jazz.
The lineup includes Juha Kujanpää on keyboards; Timo Kämäräinen on guitar; Tero Tuovinen on bass; and Jussi MieNola on drums. The horn section features Verneri Pohjola on trumpet; Joakim Berghäll on saxophones; Henri Haapakoski on flute; ja Jouni Järvelä on clarinet; Jouni Kannisto, Susanna Lukkarinen sekä Eeppi Ursin on vocals; Teija Niku on accordion; and Emmi Kujanpää on kantele.
Kujanpää’s three previous albums were “To Where My Wings Will Take Me” (2017), “Goldwing” (2015) and “Tales and Travels” (2013).