- artist:Markku Lepistö
- featured artist:Pekka Lehti, Petri Hakala, Jouko Kyhälä, Janne Viksten
- release year:2002
- country:Finland
- formats:CD (Compact Disc)
- record posted by:Aito Records Oy
- label:Aito records
Accordionist Markku Lepistö, known from many Finnish top folk bands (Värttinä, Doina Klezmer, the duo with
Aldargaz mandolinist Petri Hakala, Progmatics etc.), has released his first solo album 'Silta' ('The Bridge').
The album consists mainly of his original compositions for two-row accordion and some Finnish traditional
tunes.
Lepistö's music can be characterized as contemporary Finnish instrumental folkmusic with flavours from
America, Brasil and Ireland. On this album, Markku Lepistö is playing with Finnish top folk players Petri
Hakala (mandolins), Jouko Kyhälä (harmonium, claviola), Janne Viksten (banjo, guitar), Tuomas Logren
(guitar), Lassi Logren (violin), Pekka Lehti (bass) and Sami Koskela (pandeiro).
The album 'Silta' begins with a Finnish folk song 'Kaksipa poikaa Kurikasta' which was recorded in Markku's family house in 1969. The final track on the album is Markku's composition 'The Bridge' which was recorded in the same room in 2001.
As an accordion player, Markku is probably one of the world's best players. His debut album is honest and
unpretentious and his music has a strong feeling of life experience and Finnish tradition. The main inspiration
for this music has been Pohjanmaa (Ostrobothnia), where he was born.
Markku reflects: 'Childhood days in Pohjanmaa were full of playing in our farmyard, fishing trips to lake
Kuortane, landscapes of foggy mornings and sunsets, jamming with my father and the musicians of our
village. For all this, I would like to dedicate this music.'