"
Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and pianist Timo Alakotila have been
working together for more than a decade. During this highly active
and productive period collaborating in many formations, most notably
as prime components in the contemporary acoustic ensemble "Aldargaz",
Maria and Timo's musical alliance has grown as tight and as complimentary
as can be imagined This album "Ambra" is the first full-scale
duo project from Maria and Timo. It reflects their varied musical
history where tango, iskelma (old Finnish schlager), folk music
and their own imaginary music-worlds are in harmony together.
Renditions of the classical songs all have new faces and new life.
Perhaps the most obvious example, and most noticeably characteristic
of the duo's arranging style, is their interpretation of the Reino
Helismaa standard "Rakovalkealla", where the subtle
beauty of the melody reaches new heights......"
This is an excerpt from the text
on the album cover. I like to include artist's write ups and explanations
about their recordings as, to me, that gives them a chance to
convey to the listener and reader what they had in mind and wanted
to achieve while making the recording. Often, it explains the
content of the recording in the best way, as is the case this
time.
Maria
Kalaniemi is a master of free-bass button accordion, and one of
Finland's leading contemporary accordionists. Once a member of
pioneering group "Niekku", from the famed Sibelius Academy
Folk Music Department (where she graduated from and now teaches),
her roots are in folk and classical music but her sights and abilities
go far beyond existing styles. Technically brilliant as a player,
and adept at improvisation, she is also a very powerful, intuitive
and sensitive composer, with pieces that stylistically touch in
numerous areas but feature her own personality as the driving
force.
Maria has released many albums,
the latest a duo with pianist Timo Alakotila. She is also a member
of a female melodeon quintet called "The Helsinki Melodeon
Ladies" and a Swedish-Finnish music group "Ramunder".
Maria has toured and performed with Aldargaz and with the Maria
Kalaniemi Trio throughout Europe, USA and in Canada.
I believe I met Maria Kalaniemi
in Poland (Bjalistok) in 1986 at the Coupe
Mondiale, and remember being totally amazed with her performance
even then.
Artistically, this is a competent,
powerful, convincing and POTENT performance. The musical and performing
culture of Maria and Timo is of the highest standard. They are
obviously professionals in what they do and this album is a musical
experience that leaves a deep impression. It has an atmosphere
to it, it is classy and with exceptional taste. Above all, it
does have its "musical truth" so to speak, and it is
conveyed with passion and convincingly. *****
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