Finland is the country of jazz, Helsinki is its capital. If you’ve ever had the privilege of listening to We Jazz or Timmion’s while in Finland, you won’t be hearing anything new. But there are still surprises: Soft Power, six Finns on the Estonian departure from RR Gems Records, are already releasing their third album. With 527 Facebook followers, the group is still – shhh! – an insider tip. »Raw Bites« could change that, at least in spiritually inclined circles. The record radiates with the psych-rock of the sixties, Gábor Szabó and Pärson Sound send their greetings, maybe even the Doors will open. And before anyone says John Coltrane means Kamasi Washington, you’d better read up on Muriel Grossmann and find out what this has to do with the incense-stick jazz revival. Or get the Soft Power record and let the gooseneck and Hammond organ bring you musically up to date. No mumbo jumbo here, one might think. But for sceptical minds it’s a long way to go. To jazz land. And back.
Raw Bites
