Tsuumi Sound System

Line up

Esko Järvelä (Fiddle, viola)
Hannu Kella (Accordion)
Jani Kivelä (Guitars)
Joakim Berghäll (Saxphones, percussion)
Jussi Nikula (Drums, percussion)
Pilvi Jarvela (Piano, harmonium)
Tarmo Anttila (Double bass)
Tommi Asplund (Fiddle)

country:
Finland
region:
Scandinavia
style(s):
- Folk
- Scandinavian
label:
Tsuumi Sound System OY
type:
Band
instrumentation:
instrumental
artist submitted by:
Tsuumi Sound System

WELCOME TO SEE US AT THE NORDIC CLUB/OFFWOMEX 2012
OCTOBER 18
THESSALONIKI, GREECE

"A dangerously addictive rollercoaster ride
through Finnish folk, jazz, heart-wrenching ballad
and unstoppable dance music, with a little Balkan edge" FIONA TALKINGTON, Songlines, BBC

"This is a powerful and exciting band, which reminds at times of the Scandinavian greats of folk innovation" MIKE MOLL, Folkworld

Folk, funk and fun... This is somehow the unusual combination of this "ethno urban folk" band from Finland who is enthusing people with a broad and yet fresh sound: accordion, fiddles, double bass and percussion on the one hand, and bright, airy saxophone, guitar and piano on the other one.

Rooted in Finnish folk traditions, classical idioms and innovative modern ideas, Tsuumi Sound System was founded to support the Helsinki based dance troupe, Tsuumi. With so many ideas and a cast of talented musicians, they soon branched out into concert and recording projects devoted to new musical sounds. Since 2007, the band is touring internationally on its own. Besides the award-winning original compositions, this eight-piece band draws their strength from an exceptionally wide range of tastefully and creatively combined influences. This is a big band with a big sound, unique in its instrumentation and ready to take the next leap forward into the spotlight

BACKGROUND

Tsuumi Soundi System emerged alongside Tsuumi, a contemporary dance company. Founded in 1998, it has since become one of Finland's internationally most notable modern folk music bands. Over the years, the band has gone through a number of changes, but by the time of their fifth studio album, HOTAS (2007), their lineup has stabilized into eight members, and the name Tsuumi Sound System was established (earlier albums were released under the name Tsuumi). Their second album in this guise, GROWING UP, was released in summer 2009.

With those albums, the band actually acquired a ninth important member: producer Roger Tallroth, a super-name in Swedish folk music. The combination works well. Albums have racked up an impressive number of stars in record reviews around the world. Songlines magazine put Hotas on the Top of the World list in January 2008, and the critic declared "modestly" that the album is perfect. The same happened with Growing Up ("An impeccable follow-up to an impeccable debut").

The band has been particularly praised for the incredible energy they put into their live performances. Members have the knack of projecting their joy of making music to the very last row of the hall, and they have become accustomed to playing several encores to standing ovations. Southern European audiences, especially in Italy, have taken this Northern world music to heart.

AWARD-WINNING FUSION

The album HOTAS received a TEOSTO AWARD nomination in 2008 (Finnish Composers' Copyright Society) and was selected as TOP OF THE WORLD album by SONGLINES magazine (Jan.)

The same year, the perfect rating of five stars was given to HOTAS by German IN MUSIC magazine, as well as a nomination in the Folk & Folklore category of the German Music Critic's Awards.

In autumn 2009, a piece named CASINO written by Hannu Kella won first prize in the 'instrumental jazz song' category at the JUST PLAIN FOLKS Music Awards in the USA. This was a remarkable achievement considering that the band have not yet toured in North America at all (an oversight that will probably soon be corrected) and that there were more than 560,000 candidate songs in the Awards, all categories considered.

The album GROWING UP was nominated for the best ethnic album of the year in 2010 (EMMA AWARDS - Finnish Grammy Awards).

In 2012, the band is working on a new album. Mind blowing new tracks will be premiered at Nordic Club in Thessaloniki.

REFERENCES

Tradit (Nl), Nordjo, Folkalarm, North Norway, Vikedall Roots (No), Emma gala, Folklandia, Kaustinen, Faces, European People's Festival, Haapavesi, Korpoo Jazz, Eurovision, Helsinki Music Center (Fi), Musiques d'a Cote (F), Bremmen (De), Muziekpublique, Scottish W-E (B), Touscouleurs, Itinerary Folk, Sentieri Acustici, Note di Notte, Classica & Dintorni, Castelfidardo, Echi di Musika, Etetrad (It), Glatt & Verkerht (At), Urkult, Eskiltuna (Se), Viljandi (Ee), Odense Folk Fest (Dk)

DISCOGRAPHY

Tsuumi Sound System:
----------------------------
Growing Up 2009
Hotas 2007

Tsuumi:
------------------------------
Rajaton tapaus (Original sound track)
Avoin kentt 2002
Risteys 2000

"Bands about to embark on a recording
take note: this is a lesson in how to make the perfect album." Fiona talkington, Songlines/BBC