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JUKKA TOLONEN

Jazz Rock/Fusion • Finland


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Jukka Tolonen biography
Jukka Jorma Tolonen - Born on 16 April 1952 (Helsinki, Finland)

Jukka Tolonen co founded in 1969 the rock/jazz fusion band TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI, who recorded four critically acclaimed albums from 1969 to 1974. During this time, Tolonen also recorded two albums with the Finnish Prog band WIGWAM.
In 1971 Tolonen recorded his self titled debut recording presenting a mixture of jazz-rock and folk, followed by "Summer Games"(1972), "The Hook"(1972), "Hysterica"(1974) all in the same musical direction. Thanks to his solo records as well as his participations with Tasavallan Presidentti and Wigwam, Tolonen became very popular in Finland and to a lesser extent in Europe and the USA.
In the mid seventies Tolonen formed the Jukka Tolonen Band, featuring Swedish guitarist Coste Apetrea (ex Samla/Zamla) and presenting a more polished jazz-funk. The JTP released a couple of excellent records among them the live album "Montreux Boogie". In 1978 he released the solo acoustic album "Mountain Stream".
Throughout the 80's Tolonen touched other musical styles, recorded a classic acoustic guitar duet with Coste Apetrea and in 1982 a reggae album. He continued to be active on stage, in several line-ups including Bill's Boogie Band with Swedish vocalist/percussionist Bill Öhrström and participated in Jim Pembroke's short lived project, Filthy Rich and recorded with Finnish world fusion band Piirpauke.
During the nineties, Jukka has been working in a "mainstream" rock format with the Jukka Tolonen Trio and recorded again with Piirpauke. In 1999 Tolonen joined the reformed Tasavallan Presidentti who released a live record, "Still Struggling For Freedom" in 2001, followed by a new studio record "Six Complete" in 2006.

Photo by Olli Laasanen

Jukka Tolonen is one of the most versatile guitarists whose active career covers now nearly 40 years!

His first four solo records are highly recommended

===Martin Horst===


Discography:
Tasavallan Presidentti - Tasavallan Presidentti (1969)
Wigwam - Tombstone Valentine (1970)
Wigwam - Fairyport (1970)
Tasavallan Presidentti - Magneettimiehen kuolema (With Pekka Streng) (1970)
Jukka Tolonen - Tolonen! (1971)
Tasavallan Presidentti - Tasavallan Presidentti (II) (1971)
Tasavallan Presidentti - Lambertland (1972)
Jukka Tol...
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JUKKA TOLONEN Videos (YouTube and more)


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JUKKA TOLONEN discography


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JUKKA TOLONEN top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.42 | 41 ratings
Tolonen!
1971
4.09 | 36 ratings
Summer Games
1973
4.33 | 49 ratings
The Hook
1974
4.14 | 39 ratings
Hysterica
1975
3.54 | 22 ratings
Jukka Tolonen Band: A Passenger To Paramaribo
1977
3.94 | 14 ratings
Mountain Stream
1979
3.88 | 17 ratings
Jukka Tolonen Band: JTB
1979
4.43 | 7 ratings
High Flyin'
1980
3.88 | 8 ratings
Jukka Tolonen Band: Just Those Boys
1980
3.17 | 6 ratings
Jukka Tolonen & Coste Apetrea: Touch Wood
1981
2.75 | 8 ratings
Jukka Tolonen Band: Dum's Have More Fun
1981
4.00 | 1 ratings
In A This Year Time
1982
3.83 | 6 ratings
Jukka Tolonen & Coste Apetrea: Blue Rain
1985
4.00 | 1 ratings
Radio Romance
1986
4.00 | 1 ratings
Jukka Tolonen Trio: Last Mohican
1995
3.33 | 3 ratings
Big Time
1997
4.00 | 1 ratings
Cool Train - Tolonen Plays Coltrane!
2005
4.00 | 1 ratings
Juudan Leijona
2011

JUKKA TOLONEN Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.13 | 7 ratings
Montreux Boogie (Jukka Tolonen Band)
1978
4.00 | 5 ratings
Jazz-Liisa 3
2016
4.04 | 5 ratings
Pop-Liisa 9
2016

JUKKA TOLONEN Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

3.74 | 6 ratings
Jukka Tolonen and Coste Apetrea
1982

JUKKA TOLONEN Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.06 | 8 ratings
Crossection
1975
0.00 | 0 ratings
Impressions
1977
0.00 | 0 ratings
Classics - The Rarest
1990
2.14 | 3 ratings
On The Rocky Road - A Retrospective 1971 - 1997
2000

JUKKA TOLONEN Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.00 | 1 ratings
Silva the Cat
1975
0.00 | 0 ratings
Silva the Cat
2002

JUKKA TOLONEN Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 The Hook by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.33 | 49 ratings

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The Hook
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars This is solo album number three for guitarist extraordinaire Jukka Tolonen. The man can play multiple instruments and is a great composer as well. Probably why he was in the mighty WIGWAM and TASAVALAN PRESIDENTTI while doing his solo stuff. There are five horn players on this 1974 release playing various saxes along with trombone and trumpet. Flute too along with clavinet, moog and accordion besides the usual rock instruments.

The album cover represents this opener "Aurora Borealis" and it made me realize that it has decades since I've seen the northern lights. I grew up where you could see the northern sky over Georgian Bay and we saw them several times. This track is the longest one by far at almost 13 minutes. A nice heavy sound from the keyboards here as drums support, horns and synths will also take part. A catchy melody takes over just before 1 1/2 minutes and it's sax led. Back to the previous soundscape as contrasts continue. The guitar starts to solo over top then we get a calm with nothing but piano left. It then starts to build as bass and drums join the piano, then synths sounding melancholic which I like. Soprano sax takes the lead around 7 1/2 minutes then it's the guitar's turn before 9 1/2 minutes as Jukka lights it up.

The other two songs I really like are first "The Sea" with the opening and closing atmosphere that is quite heavy. Piano joins in then drums and bass. Flute will lead then guitar as well as a couple of horns in there as well soloing over top. My favourite is the title track "The Hook" with the many intricate sounds that come and go to begin with sounding very cool actually. The guitar is so good on this one as Jukka just plays and plays. Nice bass later on.

Another solid release from one of Finland's best guitarists.

 Summer Games by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Studio Album, 1973
4.09 | 36 ratings

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Summer Games
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars I almost feel like I'm giving this 4 stars against my will. Yet I can't deny how well done this album is. I'm not normally into such mellow records but this does break out at times("Thinking Of You In The Moonshine") with electric guitar and depth. I didn't like this record after the first listen but this one just kept getting better and better after each spin. I can relate to the Finns when it comes to their climate somewhat living here in Canada although I'm in the southern regions of Ontario where it's not that bad. Still after a couple of weeks of really cold weather with lots of snow recently I can relate. Summer means so much to us northerners. And this is a Summer record that is pleasant and often light like a warm summers day. I just enjoy the sound of this album so much.

Jukka mainly plays acoustic guitar but he adds some tablas, synths and piano and he got a couple of his TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI members to help out with flute, sax and bass. The flute might be the most prominent instrument as there's three musicians playing it. Two trombone players too and soprano sax along with two drummers as no one musician other than Jukka plays on more than three of the six tracks. Classy but warm music that again has really stolen my heart surprisingly.

 Silva the Cat by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1975
2.00 | 1 ratings

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Silva the Cat
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Matti
Prog Reviewer

— First review of this album —
2 stars In the mid-70's the Finnish guitar hero Jukka Tolonen was knocking at the door of an international breakthrough. Several US radio stations played his compilation titled Crossection, especially the piece 'Windermere Avenue' from the Hysterica album. The success in America however didn't really happen, partly due to weak promotion.

Tolonen's only single features two instrumental tracks from Hysterica (1975). Happy-spirited 'Silva the Cat' is nothing special as a Fusion composition per se, in fact it's quite straight-forward in its rhythmic structure, but Pekka Pöyry's flute and Tolonen's electric guitar are delightful to listen to.

For the B side track 'Django' I have less sympathy subjectively. Undoubtedly named after the gypsy jazz guitarist Django Rheinhardt, it focusses on Tolonen's technical virtuosity, but despite being joyful and relaxed, the piece has very little to offer from an emotional point of view, instead it feels a bit monotonous. I have no idea if this single had any effect on Tolonen's popularity, but to me it's rather useless and uninteresting outtake of an album which is not among my favourites in the first place. Hence only two stars, but you can add a third one for good musicianship.

 Jukka Tolonen Band: A Passenger To Paramaribo by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Studio Album, 1977
3.54 | 22 ratings

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Jukka Tolonen Band: A Passenger To Paramaribo
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Matti
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Guitarist (and occasional multi-instrumentalist) Jukka Tolonen became famous as the leading force of Tasavallan Presidentti, the other of the two most legendary Finnish prog bands. In the early 70's Tolonen started his instrumental Fusion oriented solo discography, which IMHO reached its artistic peak with The Hook (1974). Hystetica (1975) was a bit more rocking and care-free album.

After that the guitar virtuoso gathered a new group around him: Coste Apetrea from the Swedish RIO band Samla Mammas Manna as the second guitarist, Swedish saxophonist Christer Eklund -- who also produced A Passenger to Paramaribo --, the American- born drummer Bill Carson and bassist Ilkka Hanski replacing the TP partner Heikki Virtanen. Key wizard Esa Kotilainen continued his collaboration in Tolonen's band.

Compared to the previous albums this one contains more funk flavour, well present on the first two tracks. The third piece 'Tanja' was named after Jukka Tolonen's wife. It's an elegant and mellow little composition for acoustic guitars. 'Air Rock' is rather a typical Fusion piece of the time with airy melodies, virtuotic playing and the light funk elements. Nice, if not spectacular in any sense.

The energetic 'Dimitri' was named after Tolonen's son. The album closes with its only vocal track 'What Went Wrong?' sung by Bill Carson (whose singing style reminds me a little of Wigwam's Jim Pembroke). An OK, laid back song with a jazz/blues orientation and a long solo for electric guitar.

This is a fairly good and pleasant Fusion album all the way, but not quite as impressive as some of Tolonen's other albums.

 Pop-Liisa 9 by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Live, 2016
4.04 | 5 ratings

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Pop-Liisa 9
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Matti
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Here's yet another item in the Finnish Pop Liisa / Jazz Liisa series (we're talking of live performances in Liisankatu studios, Helsinki, from the early or mid-70's, that at the time were only broadcast on the radio and have finally, in recent years, been released on vinyls and CD's).

Jukka Tolonen, the guitarist and leading figure of TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI and a succesful solo artist, appeared twice in the series of those gigs (if the Tasavallan Presidentti gig from 1973 is not counted), first in 1973 as Jukka Tolonen Ramblin' Jazz Band featuring e.g. trumpetist Mike Koskinen and the reeds player Pekka Pöyry, then in 1975 as Jukka Tolonen Band featuring Pöyry, keyboardist Esa Kotilainen, bassist Heikki Virtanen and drummer Esko Rosnell. These musicians represent the cream of the Finnish jazz rock / fusion scene of the 70's. The vinyl for this latter gig contains four tracks in roughly 37 minutes (whereas the preceding one has two compositions, 'A Warm Trip With Taija' and 'Ramblin''). All four compositions here are from Tolonen's fourth solo album Hysterica (1975). This restriction to one album may feel a bit narrow-minded for today's music consumer, but it's understandable that the limited length of the radio-broadcast gig was dedicated to the new release. [Let it be said that Hysterica isn't among my favourite Tolonen albums; especially I prefer The Hook (1974), which is one of my favourite Finnish fusion albums of all time.]

'Tiger' is a lively jazz-rocker with solos for various instruments following each other. Especially flute sounds great. 'Windermere Avenue' is a feelgood piece in mid-tempo, slightly simpler in structure. Only Tolonen throws a solo on this one. 'Hysterica' as a faster piece is for the most part about showing off the technical competence of the musicians, both in soloing and in excellent combo playing. But as a composition it feels a bit too self-indulgent and lacking the more emotional aspect, as does also 'Django', or the gig in general, despite all the superb soloing.

I wouldn't necessarily consider this release a must; it may feel a bit pointless if you already have Hysterica album. But if you're a dedicated instrumental jazz rock / fusion listener with a special interest for live recordings and excellent musicianship, it's undoubtedly worth the money. ------ Each CD release of Pop Liisa or Jazz Liisa series contains two separate items, in this case Hurmerinta--Sorvali Big Band's gig from 1977. BTW, that gig also features guitarist Sami Hurmerinta's wife Maarit on vocals. Maarit, a respected long-term artist in her own right, sings in Finnish on her own albums, whereas the English-language set in question features compositions by Jimi Hendrix and Frank Robson.

 Mountain Stream by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Studio Album, 1979
3.94 | 14 ratings

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Mountain Stream
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Matti
Prog Reviewer

4 stars -- The First Review of This Album --

The sixth solo album of the ex- TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI guitarist & composer JUKKA TOLONEN is a solo work in every sense of the word, and an acoustic one. To the dedicated listeners of acoustic guitar soloing this naturally might be his most rewarding album, but I, and probably the majority of us, clearly prefer the preceding five albums performed by a varying bunch of musicians, especially both the more acoustic and serene "Summer Games" and the more electrified and lively fusion album "The Hook". I do appreciate good music for solo guitar (I have an LP by john Williams playing J. S. Bach, which I like a lot, and I enjoy e.g. STEVE HACKETT's acoustic works), I'm just not very deeply into music for solo instruments in general.

The two longish opening tracks are quite introvert, classically oriented compositions with some Ethnic nuances, and the brief and relatively sentimental 'A Little Love Song' brings a lovely, lighter, brighter moment. 'Life on Pluto?' sounds a bit too sketch-like for its repetitive melody line. The shortest tune 'Dimitri's Lullaby' is credited to Jukka's wife Tanja. Nice in its simplicity.

'Spring Is Coming' (14:43) is exceptionally a composition for solo piano, not guitar. No less brilliant technically, as piano was in fact Tolonen's first instrument, studied already at the age of seven. To me this is perhaps the most beautiful track of the album; I'm not sure how much the instrument itself affects to that opinion... Oh, did I just hear a tiny melodic similarity to 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'? Yes, and I believe it's an intented little citation, just few notes long. This hurriless composition is full of warmth and happy emotions. Maybe he should have done a solo piano album as well?!

The final piece is aptly titled as 'Sunrise Samba'. Recommended album if you enjoy intimate and classically oriented music for solo instruments in general and acoustic guitar especially.

 On The Rocky Road - A Retrospective 1971 - 1997 by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2000
2.14 | 3 ratings

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On The Rocky Road - A Retrospective 1971 - 1997
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Matti
Prog Reviewer

2 stars The premier Finnish guitar hero (of the 70's at least) JUKKA TOLONEN needs no introduction. Speaking of his compilations, this 2CD set is the only one I'm familiar with, so I can't compare it to others, but nevertheless I have quite mixed feelings about it.

There are various ways to make a compilation, concerning the track choices and the quantitative representation of the albums, and the running order too. Even though I normally prefer a chronological approach, I'm not complaining about the way it's broken here within each disc. The 1st CD [66:15] contains material from the albums Tolonen! (71), Summer Games (73), The Hook (74), Hysterica (75) and A Passenger to Paramaribo (77). Five strong albums, all of which could have been represented more heavily. Curiously even the liner notes mention how the four first solo albums are THE classics.

The 2nd CD [66:12] is compiled from notably weaker and musically very varied albums between the years 1979-1996. Maybe seven albums or so, and each represented with multiple tracks. (To illustrate my point, imagine a Gentle Giant compilation in which the 1st CD thinly covers the first five awesome albums and the 2nd CD contains only material from the later poor albums. Their magnificent 2CD compilation "The Edge of Twilight" contains only five classic albums nearly completely.)

This Tolonen compilation emphasizes the many-sided nature of the guitarist's output, and how he's a superb guitarist in whatever kind of music. The problem is that anyone regarding the early fusion albums to be the main interest (as every JT connoisseur is guaranteed to do) will find a lot of stuff in the latter CD terribly uninteresting and boring. At least I do. More or less straight-forward, totally unoriginal guitar rock, often with vocals -- also by Tolonen himself who certainly is no strong as a vocalist -- and even some reggae tunes. I haven't listened to his 80's/90's albums, but in the light of the choices here, several of them wouldn't have deserved this much representation. The guitar heroics take over the composing and arranging values.

Also the visual looks are ather cheap. The 1st CD alone could be worth 3½ stars (there's a 13-minute waste of space and not all choices are the best possible), but especially in a prog site the second CD lowers my rating to mere two stars. I'm being rather merciless and over-critical, I know...

 Montreux Boogie (Jukka Tolonen Band) by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Live, 1978
4.13 | 7 ratings

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Montreux Boogie (Jukka Tolonen Band)
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Suedevanshoe

4 stars "Montreaux Boogie" is a terrific live document of a razor sharp band letting loose the funky fusion. Dual guitars, bass drums and sax make the driving, intense, hypnotic sound collage that puts you in the pocket and wisks you away for 47 minutes. Guitars are on display of course, but Tolonen likes to hammer you with groove here. The power is in the tight melodies and dynamic interplay between Finland's finest from the late '70's flourishing fusion scene. For those of you who have never heard a Tolonen release, this wouldn't be a bad place to start. Think live Jeff Beck from his fusion period and you won't be too far off with this one.

Like many of my other Tolonen reviews, I'll mention how underxposed this mans body of work is. It holds up to Mahavishnu, Weather Report, RTF, Brand X, Coryell - all the biggies. If you're a fan of those, pick this one up without reservation, along with "The Hook", "Hysterica" and "A Passenger to Perimaribo" as well as his records when he was with Tasavallan Presidentti, one of the first progressive jazzrock acts.

 Jukka Tolonen Band: A Passenger To Paramaribo by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Studio Album, 1977
3.54 | 22 ratings

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Jukka Tolonen Band: A Passenger To Paramaribo
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Suedevanshoe

4 stars An exciting entry in the jazz/fusion with funk overtones category, "Passenger to Paramaribo" listens on par with Jeff Beck's classic fusion albums "Blow by Blow" and "Wired". The band is tight throughout, enhancing the funk feel along with the crispy clean almost glossy production. "Punks" and "Air Rock" are particular highlights from this 1977 release. A sorely underexposed figure in the jazz rock world, This album is waiting for inclined parties to dive in. If you like Isotope or Colosseum II or Sloche or Jeff Beck's two records I mentioned, give this one a try. It also reminds me of a Larry Coryell guitar fusion with funk release, "Aspects".
 Hysterica by TOLONEN, JUKKA album cover Studio Album, 1975
4.14 | 39 ratings

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Hysterica
Jukka Tolonen Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Anon-E-Mouse

5 stars It is true that one of Finland's finest ambassador and veteran performer of this genre would merit more attention here. But considering that guitar legend John McLaughlin doesn't fare much better himself... well, I am resisting of jumping to conclusions. It may (or may not?) help if Tolonen's Discography was updated as otherwise excellent and very mature works are yet to be listed. Missing releases at a glance:

1978 Montreux Boogie (Live), 1995 The Last Mohican, 1997 Big Time, 2004 Cool Train (John Coltrane tribute), also this very album coupled with "The Hook" as a 2 for 1 package, representing tremendous value.

"Hysterica" follows in the footsteps of Tolonen's previous album "The Hook", albeit in a slightly more compact form. All instrumental tracks, but with tighter arrangements and perhaps more melodic compositions in comparison. The added bonus is that another Finnish legend, Pekka Pohjola, on bass is also guesting on some tracks. Altogether, this work represents a fine example of great European Jazz-Rock of that era. A surprise is that "Silva the Cat" taken from this album was released as a single, although it has nothing to do with chart-topping aspirations.

Due to a permanent medical condition, Tolonen was compelled to put his guitars away for good, so new works are not likely. The 2 for 1 CD may still be in circulation and well worth tracking down. Chances are that you could be "hooked" on Tolonen as a result.

Thanks to alucard for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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