Timo Lassy

Tenor saxophonist Timo Lassy, one of Finland's leading jazz artists, is back with a new album release ''Trio'' on We Jazz Records. The album introduces Lassy's new combo with bassist Ville Herrala and drummer Jaska Lukkarinen – both We Jazz Records roster artists on their own right. The new Lassy sound is tight, swinging and funky, led by the strong and riff-ready sax of the tenorman. That being said, the album's sound is not limited to that of the swinging trio. Lassy's new vision also brings in some subtle electronics (played by Lassy, Dalindèo frontman Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen and Ilmiliekki Quartet pianist Tuomo Prättälä) and lush strings performed by Budapest Art Orchestra as arranged by Finnish artist Marzi Nyman. It's a new sound for Lassy, but one which keeps true to his no-nonsense cookin' on the tenor. ''We began the process with the bare bones trio but along the way, the sound started evolving into something else'' Lassy explains. ''That's how I like to work, anyway, while the trio can take this music to great lengths live, on the album I like to paint a fuller, more colourful picture sonically.'' The sleeve of the album features the original artwork ''Subtropic'' by Finnish artist Ilari Hautamäki.

• 1 Foreign Routes
• 2 Better Together
• 3 Sointu
• 4 Sunday 20
• 5 Subtropical
• 6 Pumping C
• 7 Orlo