Edward Vesala
Encyclopedia
Edward Vesala born Martti Vesala, was a Finnish avant-garde jazz
composer, bandleader and drummer
.
Born in Mäntyharju
, he began as a drummer playing jazz and rock in the 1960s, among all in such bands as the early line-up of Blues Section
and Apollo
. In the 1970s, he led his own jazz groups, led a quartet with Polish trumpet player Tomasz Stańko
, played with Toto Blanke's Electric Circus, and recorded with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek
. In the 1980s and 1990s, Vesala recorded several albums of his own compositions exhibiting a unique style that combines jazz
, classical music, tango
, and folk music
with his own group Sound and Fury, which was an ensemble of about ten players made up mostly of Vesala's students. Prominent players in Sound and Fury included saxophonists Jorma Tapio and Pepa Päivinen, guitarists Raoul Björkenheim
and Jimi Sumen, and harpist and keyboardist Iro Haarla who was Vesala's wife.
Vesala died from congestive heart failure
in Yläne
, Finland
at the age of 54.
With Kenny Wheeler
Avant-garde jazz
Avant-garde jazz is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. Avant-jazz often sounds very similar to free jazz, but differs in that, despite its distinct departure from traditional harmony, it has a predetermined structure over which ...
composer, bandleader and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
.
Born in Mäntyharju
Mäntyharju
Mäntyharju is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The coastline is almost...
, he began as a drummer playing jazz and rock in the 1960s, among all in such bands as the early line-up of Blues Section
Blues Section
Blues Section are a Finnish rock music group. They started in 1967, formed around the vocalist Jim Pembroke, a British expatriate song-writer now living in Finland. The other members of the band were Eero Koivistoinen , Ronnie Österberg , Hasse Walli , and Måns Groundstroem...
and Apollo
Apollo (band)
Apollo was a short-lived Finnish band who released their eponymous album in 1970. Musically, they were heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin, though the music on the album also incorporated elements of psychedelia and early progressive rock...
. In the 1970s, he led his own jazz groups, led a quartet with Polish trumpet player Tomasz Stańko
Tomasz Stanko
Tomasz Stańko is a Polish trumpeter, composer and improviser. Often recording for ECM, Stańko is strongly associated with free jazz and the avant-garde....
, played with Toto Blanke's Electric Circus, and recorded with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist, active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. Garbarek was born in Mysen, Norway, the only child of a former Polish prisoner of war Czesław Garbarek and a Norwegian farmer's daughter...
. In the 1980s and 1990s, Vesala recorded several albums of his own compositions exhibiting a unique style that combines jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, classical music, tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
, and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
with his own group Sound and Fury, which was an ensemble of about ten players made up mostly of Vesala's students. Prominent players in Sound and Fury included saxophonists Jorma Tapio and Pepa Päivinen, guitarists Raoul Björkenheim
Raoul Bjorkenheim
Raoul Björkenheim is an American jazz guitarist. He was born to Finnish parents. His mother is actress/singer Taina Elg . He lived in the USA until he was 15 years old, when his family returned to Finland...
and Jimi Sumen, and harpist and keyboardist Iro Haarla who was Vesala's wife.
Vesala died from congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
in Yläne
Yläne
Yläne is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated to Pöytyä on 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality had a population of 2,119 and covered an area of 364.76 km² of which 21.99 km² is water...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
at the age of 54.
As leader
- Nana (Blue Master, 1970)
- I'm Here (Blue Master, 1973)
- Hot Lotta (Blue Master, 1973)
- Nan MadolNan Madol (album)Nan Madol is an album by Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala originally released on the JAPO label in 1974 and re-released on the ECM label in 1976.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1974) - SatuSatuSatu is an album by Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala recorded in 1976 and released on the ECM label in 1977.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 2 stars.-Track listing:# "Satu" - 14:37...
(ECM, 1976) - Heavylife (Leo, 1980)
- Mau-Mau (Johanna, 1982)
- LumiLumi (album)Lumi is an album by Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala recorded in 1986 and released on the ECM label in 1987.-Reception:Critical reception to the album has been divided....
(ECM, 1986) - Ode to the Death of JazzOde to the Death of JazzOde to the Death of Jazz is an album by Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala recorded in 1989 and released on the ECM label in 1990.-Reception:...
(ECM, 1989) - Invisible StormInvisible StormInvisible Storm is an album by Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala recorded in 1991 and released on the ECM label in 1992.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 2 stars....
(ECM, 1991) - Nordic Gallery (ECM, 1995)
As sideman
With Tomasz StańkoTomasz Stanko
Tomasz Stańko is a Polish trumpeter, composer and improviser. Often recording for ECM, Stańko is strongly associated with free jazz and the avant-garde....
- BalladynaBalladyna (album)Balladyna is an album by Polish jazz trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stańko recorded in 1975 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G...
(ECM, 1976)
With Kenny Wheeler
Kenny Wheeler
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC is a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. since the 1950s....
- Around 6Around 6Around 6 is an album by trumpeter Kenny Wheeler recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "the sextet performs six Wheeler originals that combine together advanced swinging with fairly free explorations...
(ECM, 1979)
External links
- Edward Vesala discography compiled by Dan Kurdilla
- Edward Vesala on ECM Records
- [ Allmusic Guide biography of Edward Vesala] by Chris Kelsey
- Eetu - 12 sessiota Edward Vesalan kanssa Documentary film on Vesala and his work with Sound and Fury by Markus Viljanen (1994)