JUKKA TOLONEN

The flavor of the era.

Many credible artists were duly impressed and inspired by works of the acoustic trio of McLaughlin, DiMeola and de Lucia. This DVD recorded live in Denmark by two of Scandinavia's leading artists pays tribute to the style.

Starting with a piece "Gypsy" is a definite nod towards Django Reinhardt, followed by a Spanish flamenco-like one that more closely resembles the approach of the aforementioned trio. The third piece is more of an original approach and the final track has bluesy elements akin to McLaughlin's interpretation of such. These four somewhat different pieces seem to blend well together in due harmony.

Excellent - er, no - brilliant(!) performance by both artists taking their acoustic guitars to the limit. Highly recommended to those in favor of the style.

The downside is that the DVD is shamefully short at a mere 34 minutes with no bonus material added. The production quality is also rather poor.

Still, that it has nothing to do with the musicianship and the performance is a definite 5.

Jukka Tolonen is one of Finland's best known Prog musicians. His solo works are generally instrumental, but this release finds Bill Carson sing on the closing track. Surprisingly, it comes off quite well as a laid back winding down after a generally high intensity "tour the force" of the preceding tracks. This release is perhaps more dynamic and less subtle than Tolonen's previous two albums, but still strongly in the Jazz-Rock vein, this time coupled with some unmistakable Funk. Nothing really wrong with that and the funky approach seem to dominate Tolonen's future releases for the corresponding time period.

A versatile artist who in 2004 eventually arrives at dedicating a whole album to John Coltrane with a title "Cool Train" (yet to be added to his rather incomplete discography on PA).

"A Passenger To Paramaribo" represents excellent musicianship bursting with energy. The odd, lyrical piece "Tanja" (dedicated to his partner) is a welcome interlude. (Curiously, in 2008 Tolonen was jailed for stabbing his partner. By the time of his release in 2010, he developed osteoarthritis and was no longer able to play the guitar.)

Special mention is due to legendary Finnish record label "Love Records" that were instrumental in supporting Finnish Prog till they went out of business. Their logo is charmingly cheeky, but you'll have to Google on that to see it for yourself.

This album is definitely above 4 and contrary to some of the funky bits, it's only a bit short of 5, so to be pedantic, it's an excellent addition bordering on a Prog masterpiece.

Baby steps

This is the first album by guitar wizard Jukka Tolonen. Having already played in both Wigwam and Tasavallan Presidentti, Jukka suddenly decided to make a solo album where he could stretch out on the guitar, which should come as little surprise when one hears his involvement in the aforementioned groups, where he mostly added warmth and depth to the proceedings - only seldomly breaking away from the melodic storyline.

On Tolonen! he showcases his skills as musician rather than a lead guitarist, and he does so in a pretty unique way. Instead of using all of his studio time lying on top of some heavy blues based riffing - ornamenting the music with high soaring fiery guitar solos, which he also does on occasion, he decides to weave a series of intricate melodic string plays, creating a magical world that wouldn't be out of place in the sort of movie, where unicorns and phoenixes roam. Sure the man showboats a little during the album, reaching for that ever so wobbly and fleeting groove of the great Jimi Hendrix, but most of the time he is there massaging acoustic guitars and what sounds like harps and other such delicate string instruments.

What I like most about this venture is the cosy atmosphere. It feels like you're sitting in his living room with a fire going - drinking warm tea with rum - smoking space tobacco and relaxing like a regular polar bear rug stretched out on the wooden floor. A lot of this is down to the other instruments involved - such as the omnipresent clay-pot drums which sound so passionate and real, that you start wondering whether this album is becoming a little bit too realistic and in fact is playing from the insides of your bedroom - hiding suspiciously under the bed like a Finnish fusion ninja on the prowl. Other such things that take you into Jukka's personal quarters on that most comfortable of rugs, is the sound of the piano. It's simple and in the background, but it sure does feel like a friendly musical hug - surrounding the music in a safe and secure layering of sound. These cosy and magical sections are spread throughout the album, but especially the first cut Elements shows these delicate blossoming beauties in their full floral presence. Indeed sounds like opening ice blossoms.

The fire and raging Hendrix dominated segments that tear through a track like Last Night seem strangely uncalled for in the midst of all this frail and magical beauty. Also the convoluted nature of the free-spirited and rather meandering jazz rock that Ramblin' wields only works for this listener the first time he heard it. The haphazard feel of the reeds should be something I adore, but on this record it feels a tad out of place - like a big red sausage in the queen's hair-dew. Again, that should be right up my alley...

So all in all a mixed bag of nuts with intimate deeply moving bursts of blooming genius, but also the odd unmemorable tune that all but too well mix in with the dirt brown wallpaper of your old tool shed. Still, when this album flexes its beauty and keeps to its floral emanations, it just takes your breath away. 3.5 stars.

Suomi Lights

As with most Jukka Tolonen solo albums, the backing on this album, is mainly made up from members of the notable Finnish prog bands, Tasavallan Presidentti (Pekka Pöyry; Vesa Aaltonen; Heikki Virtanen) and Wig Wam (Mans Groundstroem; Esa Kotilainen).

The music a mostly Guitar/Piano/moog based Jazz Rock, with some longer solo's parts not unlike early Santana , but with very beautiful use of Flute and Sax changing the impression into an almost Folk like texture at times. Most tracks (Northern Lights/Windermere Avenue/Silva the Cat) are mid tempo, with an laid back feeling, easily able to support a Sunday morning hangover. But three tracks need a bit more explanation, they fall outside this general description.

Witchdrum (6:21) A wonderful track, starting out in a more frantic tempo than the other tracks, shifting between distinct Tull'ish flute sections, and wild guitar/bass/drum parts.

Last Quarter (8:36) Another very interesting track that makes this Tolonen album stick out. The only track that is with vocal. And written in a style, that shows an clear Gentle Gain influence, the vocal not of Giant quality, but the composition itself supreme, one of the only examples I know of anyone attempting to make a Gentle Giant style song, and actually making it very close.

Wedding Song (4:47) The last track on the album, in a slow tempo, with acoustic string bass, and acoustic guitar, flute and trombone playing the melody lines, soft percussion, very Nordic melancholic, very beautiful ending.

As an album not essential enough to get 5 stars, even though some part definitely are.

As a teenager around 78 I went to my first music festival.Some friends were going to a small town on the ocean north of Copenhagen.Had no idea who was going to play,but I tagged along.Camping on the beach and music in the town's school gym.Yes it was a small town and small festival.As it turned out,Jukka Tolonen was playing there and it turned out to be a great gig.He looked like a wild man.(Not like Ted Nugent and loin cloth,though I don't mind some early Nugent),but with totally long hair and mohican boots up to his knees, and boy could he play.

Anyways,this is an excellent album,that was available on I-Tunes,and OOP cd.Snagged it and was very pleased with the quality of the album.It is high octane funky jazzy rockin' album.High quality musicians including another superb guitarist Coste Apetrea and Joachim Kuhn on keys. This is to me unusual with 2 guitar players with this kind of music.Jukka and Coste swap solo after solo and they are sharp and snappy.The album is instrumental with the exception when somebody say Rock'n roll after 10 seconds,and yes indeed,off we fly.

Have enjoyed several of Jukka's output and this is probably my favorite or second along with 'Passenger from Paramaribo,that has pretty much the same members.(excluding Tasavallan Presidentti).

If you like Return to forever ,Billy Cobham,a dash of Passport ,maybe some Eleventh House,you should be good with this one.

Finnish guitarist Jukka Tolonen's fourth solo album is a great jazz rock album in the same vein as the three previous. This is fairly simple, well arranged music where the melody lines are more in focus than the solos, although we get to hear quite a lot of Tolonen's distinct and somewhat bluesy guitar, as well as a sax sometimes. Musically it reminds me of Chick Corea's Return to Forever albums but the music is not that sparkling, rather cooking. The musicians are not trying to make the music scream or cry, but rather swing and flow. There's an overall relaxed and unpretentious feeling over it although they play rather fast from time to time, and yet with a typical Scandinavian melancholy trademark.

Four bright shinig stars!

This was guitar maestro Jukka Tolonen's debut record released when he was only 19 years of age. He shows surprising maturity as you would think at that age it would be a shred-fest.The year was 1971 and Jukka would also release an album with his band TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI (their second one) and then be part of WIGWAM's "Fairyport" album as a guest guitarist. He had a busy and fantastic year. Pekka Pohjola and Ronnie Osterberg both from WIGWAM guest on this album. I should also mention that the final track "Last Night" is a live tune and it features Jukka playing with WIGWAM. In the liner notes Jukka relays how Ronnie from WIGWAM was constantly asking him to join their band, but Jukka thought if he left TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI that band would break up, he felt why not have two great bands instead of just one.

"Elements - Earth / Fire / Water / Air" opens with unique and impressive sounding guitar melodies. A good rhythm before 1 1/2 minutes comes in. Piano comes and goes. I like the bass and guitar here. Piano takes over after 3 minutes, then some spinet before 4 1/2 minutes from Jukka. A calm a minute later with flute. Guitar comes in then sax before 6 1/2 minutes. Flute is back and piano ends it. Impressive track. "Ramblin" opens with bass, drums and guitar as sax plays over top. This is an uptempo song with sax leading the way early then Jukka comes in and leads on the guitar. Nice bass lines too. Sax takes the lead again late. Great sound.

"Mountains" opens with strummed guitar as sax joins in. We start to get a guitar melody before 3 minutes when the sax stops.The earlier melody of sax and strummed guitar returns to end it. "Wanderland" opens with strummed guitar as percussion, drums and bass join in. Piano and spinet also come in. Electric guitar follows. "Last Night" is the live tune with WIGWAM although Jim Pembroke isn't on it. A nice way to end the recording as Jukka lets his hair down with some steller playing.

The enjoyment level is what's keeping me from giving this a 4 star rating, even though it's an impressive debut.

I see some Santana in here (maybe i'm wrong). I'ts a very enjoyable album but i couldn't play it more than once. I'ts like eating something not nice, but if you are starving you'll have it anyway. I'm not saying this is a bad album, but is not quite prog for my taste. Anyway, if you like guitars you hear it.

Acoustic guitar masters

Here is a real treat for fans of masterful acoustic guitar playing. Imagine two guitar legends seated next to each on a bare stage with the camera rolling as they jam and solo all over each other. Finland's Jukka Tolonen is joined by friend and collaborator Coste Apetrea (of Sweden) for a short but sweet 30 minutes of acoustic music covering a variety of moods from quiet to playful to roaring. They warm up nicely during the opening "Gypsy" but by the time they get deep into "Friend Play" the level of jamming is really something. They trade off between lead and rhythm and both men are exciting to watch especially if you are a guitarist. Reminds me of watching Steve Howe or others at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. The two lads had been playing together for about 5 years and their interplay and fretboard communication surely shows it. This is a very short DVD of interest to a rather limited contingent of the prog community but for those who love acoustic music it is not to be missed. Sound and picture quality are not stunning by today's standards but certainly good enough.

Jukka's solo debut

Finland's Jukka Tolonen is an acclaimed veteran guitarist that few in the US have heard of, but he has had a long and successful career. His debut solo album in some ways reminds me a bit of an early Akkerman album in that it has some wonderful moments but a few misses as well. He started on piano in a musical household and made the switch to guitar after seeing The Beatles and others on television. He is one of those individuals for whom you can just tell music runs naturally through his veins, for whom it flows out in his playing. He is an extraordinary guitarist and keyboardist but as we know that doesn't always guarantee one will be a great songwriter too. At this point he was only about 19 years old and the results are mixed but very promising. Tolonen is also famous for being a part of the group Tasavallan Presidentti.

"Elements" is a joy to take in with Jukka's guitar bursting in wild abandon. I would guess Hendrix and Clapton to be influences on Jukka and I feel there are some similarities in style with Howe and Akkerman though I wouldn't want to guess if they were actual influences. This cool track doesn't stop with spirited guitar however, there are some really great melodic piano sections by Jukka himself who was adept at more than one instrument. There are also some wonderful flute and saxophone parts. Bass duties on the song are handled by none other than Mr. Pekka Pohjola making this album of even more interest to Fin-prog fans. In "Ramblin" things take a funkier jazzed-up tone with an immediate heavy groove to the rhythm section and saxophone, sounding a bit in the Traffic neighborhood. The guitar work is pretty ferocious again, adept, nimble, and fresh. "Mountains" is a big change-up, a duet between the meditative, melancholic guitar of Tolonen and some wonderful faraway saxophone by Pekka Poyry. Jukka takes a short solo that sounds a bit like Garcia on a quiet Workingman Dead's track but really stays out of Poyry's way here, to great results. This is a beautiful and unique piece of songwriting. "Wanderland" is primarily another keyboard piece by Jukka showing his talent there as well, though the song doesn't do too much for me. The album closes with a live track called "Last Night" which is a heavy blues-rock thing as Jukka shows off a little Jimmy Page jamming. Recorded in Helsinki presumably in '71 this track again features Pohljola live on bass. The sound is not bad for the time but still not great, and the baffling fade-out at 3 ½ minutes makes you wonder why when they had plenty of space even in the vinyl days.

Tolonen is a nice historic slab for those who want to hear this virtuoso guitarist early on, and for fans of Finnish rock. "Elements" and "Mountains" are standout tracks that are quite good but totaling 14 minutes between the two hardly makes the album essential. The Love Records re-issue of 2004 features quality sound but a scant 2-page booklet with just a few liner notes.