Divided Horizon Aki Rissanen

• 1 Vallons 03:34
• 2 Stream Lines 04:20
• 3 Cold Code 04:30
• 4 Leisure 04:56
• 5 Divided Horizon 06:07
• 6 My Finnish Heart 02:54
• 7 Omniwerk Interlude 03:48
• 8 Prelude Oblique 04:00
• 9 Kuusikko 03:45
• 10 Bonfire Ballet 04:39
• 11 Great Expectations 02:54
• 12 Deciphered 04:31
• 13 One Goes Straightforward Ways 03:31
• Total Runtime 53:29

Info for Divided Horizon

Aki Rissanen is a pianist of formidable talent and one of the most praised and highly regarded jazz musicians to emerge from the super-creative and original Finnish Jazz scene. As a leader he has released three albums with his long standing trio: Amorandom (2016), Another North (2017) and Art in Motion (2019). With Divided Horizon, he’s chosen a more sophisticated and solitary path, focussing on solo piano and the unique instrument, the Omniwerk.

Divided Horizon originates from a contrasting duality in Aki’s music. An older, classical sound reminiscent of the baroque era is combined with a minimalist influence and electronic abstraction. It’s this blend that gives Aki his distinctive sound and identity. Conceptually, its bursting with originality and integrity, the sound quality is pristine, the playing rhythmic and shining with brilliance.

Here we have a pianist of exceptional ability, bringing together new elements in a way never heard before. The Omniwerk is an instrument of unique conception – an experimental hybrid keyboard invented by Finnish instrument builders Jonte Knif and Jukka Ollikka inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s original concept. It both plucks and bows, combining a Baroque-era lute-harpsichord and violin sound in one.

Aki explains how the Omniwerk played a role in the album and what excited him about this opportunity to play this rare instrument.

“I composed the main part of the songs for the grand piano and left the Omniwerk to be a ‘wild card’, something I add to the grand piano tracks. However I ended up recording a few free improvisations which I didn’t plan before and the tracks ‘Omniwerk Interlude’ and ‘Deciphered’ are the result. The Omniwerk eventually became an essential part of the album. I have played a couple of solo concerts with the instrument a few years ago and definitely will play it more in the future. You need to approach the instrument completely the opposite from the piano: you can alter the sound after the key is pressed, the touch is very different and you have to be familiar with how every key works – each of them have different personalities! The instrument is a composer’s and player’s wonderland – you can make it sound like a complete string orchestra from the Baroque era or completely avant-garde. Especially experimental things – sounds like you have never heard before!”

Playing solo has always been a natural way for Aki to share his music. He loves playing acoustically, but also loves to use the possibilities of the studio where he can create music not possible live. As he explains: “I like to overdub multiple tracks and use the computer’s recording software as an instrument itself. I’ve always loved to play electronic keyboards as well and I occasionally use a synthesiser in this album. Some songs were played live, completely acoustic, and I wanted to keep these as the ‘main sound’ of the record. But there are also songs built in the studio using a grand piano and Omniwerk and in addition a synthesiser providing extra spice. I did not use any acoustic or electric preparations with the grand piano sound but I played the Omniwerk in as many ways as possible. For example I used the natural, plucked sound; I muted the strings with my fingers; I played the bowed, string-like sound and searched for overtones to sound like a hurdy-gurdy. I sampled the Omniwerk as well with the computer and sequenced it in the recording software”.

Divided Horizon is yet another album highlighting the brilliance of Aki Rissanen’s musicianship and adding to his impressive catalogue. There’s no doubt of his importance as a leading Finnish musician but with each release his importance in Europe and further afield grows. This is serious music that requires serious listening, but the rewards are so much greater.

...Rissanen’s fine trio is a formidable force, with fresh musical intelligence to match flawless techniques." (The Guardian)

Aki Rissanen, piano
Antti Lötjoenen, double bass
Teppo Mäkynen, drums

Aki Rissanen
b. 1980 in Kuopio, Finland, is a Finnish pianist and composer. Although originally classically trained he has always had a heart for improvisation and jazz. His studies include classical piano at the Kuopio Conservatory, Finland (1990-2000); jazz music and education at the Helsinki Polytechnic School Stadia (2000-2002); jazz and improvised music at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris, France (2005-2006); private lessons in New York, USA and Cologne, Germany (2005-2008) and jazz piano and composition at the Sibelius Academy Jazz Department in Finland (2002-2009), where he received the Master’s degree. His teachers include Jarmo Savolainen, Jukkis Uotila, Kirmo Lintinen, John Taylor, Jim Beard, Anders Jormin, Hervé Sellin, Markku Hyvärinen, Jouni Kuronen, Seppo Kantonen, Frank Carlberg, Pessi Levanto and Mikael Jakobsson. Rissanen has made several extended stays in Paris, Berlin and New York and currently is based in Helsinki, Finland.

Rissanen has released five albums under his own name in USA, France and Finland and has recorded with such names as Dave Liebman, Rick Margitza, Tim Hagans, Magnus Broo, Jim Beard, Robin Verheyen and Verneri Pohjola. He has shared the stage with UMO Jazz Orchestra, Dave Liebman, Rick Margitza, Randy Brecker, Mats Gustafsson, Sten Sandell, Ingrid Jensen, Michael Gibbs, Barry Guy, Daniel Humair, Bill Watrous, Jukka Perko, Jukkis Uotila, Eero Koivistoinen and Ulf Krokfors among others.

Rissanen is the leader of Aki Rissanen Trio with Antti Lötjönen (bass) and Teppo Mäkynen (drums) and a side project of this trio, entitled Amorandom featuring Petri Ruikka on visuals. He co-leads the trio Aleatoric with Robin Verheyen (sax) and Markku Ounaskari (drums); the duo with Verheyen, the quartets featuring sax greats Dave Liebman and Rick Margitza, the “Frozen Gainsbourg” quintet with Mikko Innanen (sax) featuring Swedish Emil Strandberg (trumpet), Norwegian Per Zanussi (bass) and Danish Stefan Pasborg (drums).

German-born composer Sid Hille wrote a piano concert “Motion” for Rissanen in 2012 and the premiere was in the Laulumiehet Concert Hall in Helsinki in October on the same year. With trumpeter Verneri Pohjola Rissanen has worked over 10 years and is member of his quartet which has relased two albums for the prestigious ACT Records in Germany. The duo with Pohjola has seen many concerts, too. Newer groups include Esa Pietilä Liberty Ship, Mikko Hassinen Electro GT, Jori Huhtala 5, Pope Puolitaival United and Jukka Perko’s orchestral productions Bird Lives!, Perko plays Simon and Garfunkel and a orchestral work by Heikki Sarmanto.

Rissanen has earlier worked with, now defunct projects like Warp! with Eeppi Ursin, Verneri Pohjola and Joonas Riippa; White Light Quartet (international cast of members from FIN-FRA-BEL); Belfin Quartet (FIN-BEL); and Thalassa (FIN-GER-NOR). He has performed in most of the European countries, USA, China and North Africa.

This album contains no booklet.