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Petri Hakala
Kirjo
Kansanmusiikki-instituutti - Folk Music Institute, Finland (www.kaustinen.fi/ktk/kmi.htm)
Finnish musical fixture Petri Hakala finally has his own recording, Kirjo (Spectrum). At home on a variety of strings, including cittern, guitar, and fiddle, Hakala is plainly most comfortable on mandolin, a challenging little instrument from which he wrings articulate and varied effects with the seeming effortlessness denoting thorough mastery. The supporting musicians on these twelve tracks, mostly Hakala compositions, are also a recurring joy, collaborating in an often startling traditional sound with unusual tonal combinations and a profound jazz influence.
The traditional "Rautanen" is in a bouncy 6/8, so lively and stuttery as to suggest a much more fractured time signature. Tapani Varis' jew's harp is not only exotic but surprisingly melodic, perfectly complementing Hakala's perky mandolin lead. "Minor Mode" is also quite upbeat, driven by hand drum percussion, mandolin lead supported by Tuomas Logren's guitar and also Timo Alakotila's piano, which joins in unison at times. Piano and guitar solos are light, new-age jazzy, but exquisitely suited to the song's atmosphere. "Shepherd's Blues" is a surprise; a happy wayward swing, almost goofy in a light-hearted way, featuring Hakala on fiddle, tonal complexity added by Janne Viksten's banjo. On "Saudade do Cavaquinho," a quick yet intimately structured Pixinquinho Brazilian choro, Hakala solos on multiple mandolins and mandocello. On the bouncy "Kinnarin Polska," Hakala's cittern traces one of those long, convoluted melody figures which span a large and varying number of measures. The result is upbeat and a bit classical. On the quieter side, "Hiljaiset soinnut / Silent Chords" is a slow, nostalgic traditional piece, mandolin plucked with supernal delicacy, backed by fluid guitar with some surprising chords, harmonium and soprano sax adding a quiet celebration near the end. - Jim Foley
CD available at cdRoots
"Rautanen" Traditional, arranged by Petri Hakala; ©1999 Kansanmusiikki-instituutti - Folk Music Institute, Finland
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