Mighty Mighty comes blazing forward from the flourishing Finnish jazz scene. The creation of pianist-composer Kari Setälä, this collective of Helsinki jazz A-listers navigates effortlessly between various flavours of jazz, leaping from energetic straight-ahead into swinging hard-bop and vintage jazz-funk – and everything in between.

As an artist, while I regard composing as a great way of self-expression, I do strongly believe that a collection of “good tunes” – in addition to immaculate solo performances and communicative band interplay - is the guiding light and backbone of a successful jazz album set. That is, compositions with memorable and strong, melodic themes, that - while being approachable – never compromise their artistic integrity nor forego the jazz tradition they stem from. Compositions that are almost always more than just vehicles for extended improvisation: songs.

Putting together this group in early 2009, I had a quite clear artistic vision of trying to balance the musical output between two loves: thereʼs that 1970ʼs electric-piano- fueled jazz-funk as pioneered by H. Hancock, and on the other hand, the acoustic two- horn hard-bop sound of the 1960ʼs.

Iʼve been lucky to be surrounded by a group of excellent and highly in-demand musicians, who are able to swim in these waters like its their second nature!

Kari Setälä

Mighty Mighty - Backyard Boogie

Richard Baratta
Music in Film:  The Sequel
Savant Records - SCD 2201

Richard Baratta – drums, leader, percussion
Bill O'Connell - piano, arranger
Vincent Herring - alto saxophone
Paul Bollenback – guitar
Michael Goetz - bass  
Paul Rossman - congas, percussion
TRACK LIST:
Itsy Bitsy Spider from “Heartburn” • Soul Bossa Nova from “Austin Powers” • Theme from “The Pink Panther” • Last Tango in Paris from “Last Tango in Paris” • Out of This World from “Out of This World” • Pure Imagination from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” • You've Got a Friend in Me from “Toy Story” • Cantina Band from “Star Wars: A New Hope” • Man of Constant Sorrow from “O Brother Where Art Thou?” • Smile from “Modern Times” & “Joker” • Volley for Jabali

The one thing all but one of the works on this recording have in common is that they were used in a motion picture, though only six of the eleven songs were written for a specific movie.  They cover a fairly long period of cinematic history with Charlie Chaplin's timeless classic, “Smile” being heard in the earliest and latest films on the list: Modern Times (1936) and Joker (2019).  It is interesting to note that the album's leader and drummer, Richard Baratta, was an executive producer on Joker.  With this Hollywood connection, Baratta's life has been somewhat cinema-centric, but he actually started out as a jazz drummer, working with Butch Morris, Billy Bang, Hal Galper and others.  Today Baratta has returned to his jazz roots and his colorful, propulsive drumming is a real highlight of this recording, a follow up to his 2020 release, Music in Film: The Reel Deal.  You won’t find any lengthy, indulgent solos here but you will smile approvingly at his keenly executed flourishes and mini-breaks.  Back in the studio with Baratta is Grammy-nominated arranger and pianist, Bill O'Connell, his years of Latin jazz experience influencing a number of tracks.  Alto saxophonist Vincent Herring also returns providing an athletic lead on many selections and some coruscant solo work.  With guitarist Paul Bollenback and bassist Michael Goetz rounding out the rhythm section and Paul Rossman providing some additional percussion colors, Richard Baratta takes you on another imaginative, jazz-filled trip to the movies.  But you'll have to supply your own popcorn.

Music in Film: The Sequel

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Itsy Bitsy Spider (arr: O'Connell) - Richard Baratta - Music in Film: The Sequel

Rough Mercy

From the record Hearts Wide Open.
Available for purchase here: 
http://www.giladhekselman.com/cds/

Personnel:
Gilad Hekselman - Guitar & Composition
Mark Turner - Saxophone
Joe Martin - Bass
Marcus Gilmore - Drums

I want your love - Gunhild Carling - demo

Gunhild Carling

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