- country:Finland
- style(s):Scandinavian, Tango
- label:ARC Music
- type:Band
- gender:male, female
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist posted by:Tango-Orkesteri Unto
Line up
- Hannu Rantanen (double bass)
- Johanna Juhola (accordion)
- Mauno Järvelä (violin)
- Petri Hakala (guitar)
- Pirjo Aittomäki (vocals)
- Timo Alakotila (piano)
Links
The key incredients of the Finnish tango are longing and passion. Tango-orkesteri Unto's music is firmly rooted in both. The six virtuosos led by pianist-arranger Timo Alakotila salute the classic Finnish tango repertoire with their freshly nuanced and powerful renditions of works by Unto Mononen and Toivo Kaerki, the most prominent composers of the genre. The varied musical backgrounds of Unto's musicians - from world music and jazz to theatre music and tango nuevo imprint their music with a wealth of influences, freedom of playing and depth of interpretation. Untos music breaths and flows with exceptional freedom.
The key incredients of the Finnish tango are longing and passion. Tango-orkesteri Unto's music is firmly rooted in both. The six virtuosos led by pianist-arranger Timo Alakotila salute the classic Finnish tango repertoire with their freshly nuanced and powerful renditions of works by Unto Mononen and Toivo Kaerki, the most prominent composers of the genre. The varied musical backgrounds of Unto's musicians - from world music and jazz to theatre music and tango nuevo imprint their music with a wealth of influences, freedom of playing and depth of interpretation. Tango-orkesteri Unto's music breaths and flows with exceptional freedom.
Tango-orkesteri Unto (Tango Orchestra Unto), named after the great tango composer Unto Mononen, was founded in 1998 at the initiative of the Finnish Performing Music Promotion Centre to promote Finnish tango at EXPO98 in Lisbon. Since then, the band has performed mainly abroad, with a warm reception from the audiences and the press alike. The successes in recent years include sold out concerts in Vienna at the Jeunesse Festival (2009) and FolkBaltica Festival in Germany (2007). In July 2009 the band performed at the City of London Festival at an event dedicated to the Finnish tango. In 2011-12 Unto's international success continued in Scandinavia and Germany. Concerts at The Kennedy Center's Nordic Cool Festival in Washington and Scandinavia House in New York marked the group's US debut in 2013.
On their first album, Finnish Tango, released by ARC Music in 2003, Tango-orkesteri Unto interpretes a fine selection of the most loved Finnish tangos. On their new album, "Kylmae rakkaus - Cold Love", Finnish Tango vol. II (ARC), the band again explores the evergreen tangos but also introduces original material written to Finnish poetry by Timo Alakotila and Johanna Juhola as well as significant Finnish songwriters like Anna-Mari Kaehaerae and Jussi Tuurna.
Tango-orkesteri Unto is currently preparing the release of their third album to be released in 2014.
Finnish tango is alive and well in the hands of Tango-orkesteri Unto
The members of Tango-orkesteri Unto are all prominent figures in the Finnish world music and jazz scenes and have played with f.ex. Vaerttinae, JPP, Troka, How Many Sisters, Johanna Juhola Reaktori, Spontaani Vire, UMO Jazz Orchestra, Raoul Bjoerkenheim, Pepa Paeivinen, Maria Kalaniemi & Aldargaz among others.