Tampere Big Band, Juha Untala - Kari Komppa: To The Stars TBB LIVE! (SACD)

Kari Komppa's music

To The Stars

TBB Live!

Tampere Big Band

Juha Untala conductor

Legendary Kari Komppa
The new album TO THE STARS - TBB LIVE! features Kari Kompa’s big band music, performed by the Tampere Big Band—once led by Kompa himself—under the direction of Juha Untala. The recording was made at the TBB’s Komppa concert, and the result is one of the most thrilling big band albums of the moment, stylishly edited into a multi-channel format—it would be a miracle if your feet didn’t start tapping. This album puts you in a good mood!

Renowned jazz composer Kari Komppa began his career in the early 1960s with Marjatta Leppänen’s band in Tampere. In the 1970s, the Break Big Band, which he led and for which he wrote extensively, was one of the most significant jazz orchestras in our country. The highlight was winning the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) composition competition in 1981 with the song “TETHYS.”

The album features the tracks “Kohti korkeuksia” (1975), “458 R.T.” (1975), “Kontrasteja” (1975), “Tethys” (1981), “Makumoka” (1982/2007), Blues 26 (1988), Aldebaran (1977/1997), and Saxlix (1978).

In 2006, the Tampere Big Band returned to its original home at the Tampere Conservatory, kicking off an active season by celebrating its 21st anniversary. The anniversary concert was held at Pyynikkisali in October 2006. Kari Kompa’s compositions were performed again on February 6, 2008, with Juha Untala, lecturer in trumpet at the Conservatory, conducting both concerts. The Tampere Big Band was founded in the fall of 1984 by Raimo Sarmas, Jarno Sinisalo, and Risto Tanner.

Guest soloists on the album include Jukka Eskola (tp), Masa Orpana (sax), Jukka Hänninen (sax), Petri Nieminen (sax), Lauri Hannu (g) & Aki Rissanen (p), as well as the Prospero Chamber Orchestra.

FORMAT: SACD