in Reviews

Musical cross-section of the Finnish landscape

by Laura Korhonen

"The Hot Heros' most recent album, Folkjazz from Finland, paints an image of the Finnish (mental) landscape that is best appreciated through focused listening. This gives the feeling of being at a live gig, and there is an irresistible urge to applaud after each solo."

Hot Heros is a combo of three multi-talented Finnish musicians: Sami Sippola (tenor sax), Ville Rauhala (double bass) and Janne Tuomi (drums and percussion). Their most recent album, Folkjazz from Finland, paints an image of the Finnish (mental) landscape that is best appreciated through focused listening. This gives the feeling of being at a live gig, and there is an irresistible urge to applaud after each solo.

All of the eight tracks on the album feature folk-ish melodies brashly brought forth by Sippola on his sax. The double bass and drums also have their say. The musical ambitions of the trio lean heavily towards improvisation, and their laser-sharp rhythmic precision is no doubt the product of years of making music together.

The improvised passages on the album open up new vistas. Sippola colours his virtuoso solos with a wide variety of noises and sounds; Tuomi brings out his percussion prowess with a pulsating yet never wavering rhythmic performance; and Rauhala’s bass possesses an expressive range from the tranquil to the turbulent.

HOT HEROS: Folkjazz from Finland

Sami Sippola (tenor saxophone)
Ville Rauhala (double bass)
Janne Tuomi (drums and percussion)

2018 Eclipse Music ECD-201871