Kaira – Urban Sagas Of Northern Cities LP

Kaira – Urban Sagas Of Northern Cities

The moniker KAIRA hides a fascinating combination of artists from the vanguard of the Finnish contemporary jazz scene, put together by Lauri Kaira, who co-wrote the album together with keyboardist Markus Niittynen. Other members in the band feature Joonatan Rautio (saxophone), Sampo Tiittanen (bass), Jussi Lehtonen (drums and percussion), and Nina Mya & Sam Huber on vocals.

Produced by composer Kaira with the assistance of Finland’s only professor of jazz music, Jukkis Uotila, the album is the fruit of a lot of time and effort. The eponymous album has a strong Nordic emphasis - its subtitle is Urban Sagas of Northern Cities - and its moods stem from long Scandinavian winters and light-filled summer nights. “Northern cool meets hot jazz and all snowmen melt in ecstasy”, as vocalist Sam Huber describes it.

Tracklist:
A1 Shining Star 4:14
A2 Never Say Never 5:08
A3 You Are Too Perfect 4:53
A4 Playing With Your Life 5:11

B1 Magic (Beyond Words) 4:10
B2 Since Then 4:27
B3 Just The Way It Is 4:21
B4 Let's Keep It Like This 2:11
B5 Shining Star Reprise 1:06

Label: Svart Records
Released: 2017