Aleksi Heinola
Aleksi's new international quartet, featuring Copenhagen-based saxophonist Gabor Bolla and bassist Daniel Franck, took to the decks, with 38 on piano the day after the concert. Finnish Jazz Legend Jukkis Uotila.

Already a few years ago, with the Aleksi Heinola Quintet Heinola showed that the 60's Blue Note bop was in the bag and that was the name of the game this time, perhaps even more purely refined. Strongly throughout the duo's set, the music brought to mind the 60s music of Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, with one tune from Shorter, The Big Push.

Heinola has a brash personality as a drummer, and it didn't take long to get into the groove. Heinola likes to play with a rather heavy hand, which requires confidence and strong playing from his playing partners. Uotila's piano playing fitted this environment like a glove and Franck's bass had enough confidence.

Perhaps the best part of the whole concert was when the band was invited on stage for an encore and the standard Four was played very well.

Apparently there will be an album from this band later this year on the Jazzaggression label, and we were looking forward to it.