Timo Lassy’s “Round Two”

Finland’s central sax titan Timo Lassy is here with his second go solo, on the promptly titled ‘Round Two’ album. Interesting jazz albums from Finland have been in good supply over the recent years *duh, I hear you say*, and there is no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Personally, Lassy’s fist album, “The Soul & Jazz of” had an enormous impact on me, and I don’t exaggerate by saying it’s my favourite of the whole, hyped Ricky-Tick catalogue, and thus perhaps the whole of Finnish jazz output in the past decade. So, it’s obvious that reaching those heights would be anything but easy.

The very core of what made “The Soul & Jazz of” great, is still in place. “Round Two” is again produced by Teppo “Teddy Rok” Mäkynen, this time in co-operation with Lassy himself. Lassy also takes a step towards self-efficacy on the material, as all of the tunes are composed by him. The proven-well band has remained the same, with the addition of Ari Jokelainen to the reeds section.

Some evolution in sound can be heard. The most evident of course is the addition of José James flying in from NY to feature on two vocal tracks (the whole lot was recorded 100% direct in a studio in Helsinki, over three days). The collaboration between the two began on the Nicola Conte album “Rituals” and became incarnate on the Nicola Conte Jazz Combo live setup later.

José James is every bit as solid as his reputation on the opener “The More I Look at You”, which was also released as a 7″, and then he lets even more loose on “Ya Dig”, which some of you might notice to be the instrumental tune of the flipside of that very same single.

Secondly, Timo Lassy steps out of the hard bop idiom to knock on the doors of older and lighter styles on pieces “Fooling Rosetta” and “Buzz Beater Stomp”. This variation is welcome to the overall sound, further proving that he has a voice that is well outside that of TFCQ’s. Even though it’s “swingy”, it still cooks. “Stomp” ends the album with a bang, quite literally.

The rest of “Round Two”, clocking at 42 minutes, is more in the vein of the compositions of the first album. There is the latin-tinged “Shifting Winds” that’s a highlight – “Deeper Into” is on the spiritual side, and then the lone ballad, “Some Love”. The solo spotlight is much locked on Lassy throughout, while the other horns settle to fill.

After listening to this album many times and letting it grow on me, I’m not sure if I recognise the instant hit potential of, say, “Timber Yard”, “Early Move”, or “Skinny Dipping” from TFCQ‘s “Hot Corner”. Only the club dance floors around the world will tell, eventually.

Over the continuing span of success of Ricky-Tick Records and everyone around the phenomenon, much has been discussed about the right of modern jazz’s accessibility rooted on tradition to excel, without always trying to push the limits or be somewhat enigmatic. Even the liner notes address the question. I don’t think we need to be asking this anymore. It’s like what I kept saying to the doubters back in 2005, these guys will hit big. Rosetta may get fooled, but nobody else. Lassy & co. at Ricky-Tick have now, at the latest, proven to the toughest of public that one’s nod to the past isn’t showing one’s rear end to the future. Boy was I glad to be right!

Timo Lassy – Round Two from Ricky-Tick Records on Vimeo.

• Tracklist: The More I Look At You (ft. José James) / Shifting Winds / Ya Dig (ft. José James) / Some Love / Deeper Into / Fooling Rosetta / Backyard Puma / Buzz Beater Stomp
• CD / LP (includes download) / download available through Nov 27th worldwide
• More info: http://www.timolassy.com/new-lp-round-two/

by -Janski- for beyondjazz.net