Definition: Music composed by Billy Cobham for large musical ensemble.

Billy has developed a musical portfolio expressly to present his music through the musical portal of the Jazz Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra. Evidence of this can be experienced in the DVD collaboration with The Espoo Big Band of Finland.

Directed by Mika Kaurismäki      

Billy Cobham plays own compositions with the world famous Espoo big band from Finland.  As a composer with strong roots in the jazz and  Latin Music Cobham processes 40 years musical experience and creativity with pulsating orchestra arrangements. It is a sound reflection of an extraordinary person and musician, who lives and writes a big chapter of music history.

„I make music of my life for your life. Things I express and pass on are the mirror of my personality and my experiences. That is all I can express… What makes a band very special are not the particulars, but this music, which develops at the community level… If each individual plays well enough , in order to sound good as a band, nobody in the audience will remember who the individual persons are“ (Billy Cobham)

For Billy Cobham the big band is probably the most difficult  platform to unite individual ambitions with the requirements of the band as a whole. The band has a very important role in this concert. Billy Cobham mentions that four elements are necessary to create a very good band : musicality and the choice of musicians; companionship and mutual respect between the musicians on-stage and backstage; collective creativity and fantasy; and finally time, which allows a band to grow like a fine wine.

The concert at the Espoo Jazz Festival unites these elements with adorable compositions like “Red Baron”, “Conondrum” and “Stratus” to unique portrait of music.

Tille: Extended Works

86 minutes, Color, HD Cam  Sound: Surround 5.1

Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Screenplay: Mika Kaurismäki, Uwe Dresch, Marco Forster

Musicians: Billy Cobham , Randy Brecker, Espoo Big Band
Conductor: Scott Stroman
Master of Ceremony: Chicago Beau

Country of origin: Germany
Co-production countries: Finland, Switzerland
Year of production: 2009

Production Company:
Uwe Dresch Film Ltd.
Aegidienbergerstr. 23
D-50939 Köln (Cologne)
www.udfilm.com

producer: Uwe Dresch
E-Mail: uwe (at) dresch (dot) info
Phone: + 49 163 581 33 67

Co: production:
Marianna Films OY, Finland
Marco Forster Productions, Switzerland

Director of Photography: Jacques Cheuiche
Film Editors: Oli Weiss, Roger Kleiber
Sound: Uwe Dresch
Colors & Grading: Roger Kleiber
Music: Billy Cobham

The Espoo Big Band (EBB) is one of the finest big jazz orchestras in Europe. It was founded and is conducted by Martti Lappalainen, who was elected the Jazz Musician of the Year and awarded the Georgie-prize by the Finnish Jazz Federation in 1986.

The EBB has been on stage at several international jazz festivals including Detroit, Miami, New York, Montreux, Antibes, Budapest, Montpellier, Umbria, London and Paris. Jazz greats who have performed as soloists in various concerts with the EBB include Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton, Thad Jones, Bill Watrous, Ray Anderson, Diane Schuur, Art Farmer and Carla Bley, The New York Voices, Maria Schneider, Ray Charles, Kevin Mahogany and Trilok Gurtu.

The beginnings of the EBB go back to the Tapiola Music School in Espoo, where experimental jazz education was launched in 1968 by Martti Lappalainen. The Tapiola Big Band was founded 1970 and achieved soon name and fame in Europe by winning international contests and was known for its young skilled players and ambitious concert programs.

Max Jones, Melody Maker, London wrote Sept. 23.1972:
" The Tapiola Big Band, an orchestra from a high school near Helsinki has been here and gone – leaving behind a number of surprised hearers. I caught the Tapiola Sound last week at Bruce Turner’s Club and like all around me was impressed by the arrangements and performance of a band whose ages are said to range from 14 to 18..."

Randi Hultin, the Down Beat correspondent, wrote August 3. 1974 in Dagbladet, Oslo:
" Although we felt maybe little tired of listening to various jazz concerts in the cinema theatre 1 pm. to 9 pm. we woke up to new life at night in the Town Hall when the Tapiola Youth Big Band from Finland set up its firework. It was quite a sensation to hear the brilliant ensemble of 15 youngsters under the strong direction of Martti Lappalainen..."

Espoo Big Band
Ahertajantie 6 B, FIN-02100 ESPOO, FINLAND.
Tel. +358-9-455 0003, telefax +358-9-465 172
e-mail: ebband@kolumbus.fi

LINE UP ESPOO BIG BAND

Martti Lappalainen, director
Born in 1941, started his first jazz band in the age of 14. Graduated from Sibelius Academy 1968. Started the first school jazz program in Finland in late sixties. With Tapiola Big Band to USA 1979 as the first Finnish Big Band ever. Founded EBB 1980. Since that performances with EBB at big international jazz festivals in Europe, USA, Australia and the Far East. The Jazz Musician of the Year 1985 in Finland. Director and founder of EBELI jazz school 1996. Latest concert tours with EBB in Australia and New Zealand in 1998 and in New Orleans in 2000.

REEDS

Jukka Perko
Has an impressive career as a jazz musician by any form of measurement. Member of Dizzy Gillespie 70th Anniversary Big Band for 2 years. Appeared as soloist and with his own groups in more than 20 countries in Europe, USA, Australia and the Far East. Jazz Musician of the Year by the Finnish Jazz Federation 1989. His recording ” The Music of Olavi Virta” is the first Finnish release on the Blue Note record label.

Markus Holkko
Studies at Sibelius Academy Jazz Dept. Member of ”U-Street All Stars” (1st Prize and Best Soloist Award in Getxo jazz competition in Spain 2001). CD ”Helsinki Sessions” 2002 on Blue Note Finland label.

Manuel Dunkel
Studies in Sibelius Academy Jazz Dept., Member of UMO from 94. Pekka Pöyry saxophone award 1996. Own band ”Manuel Dunkel Quartet”. Concert in April Jazz EBU Festival -97 representing Finnish Broadcasting Company.

Esa Pietilä
Master’s degree in jazz in Sibelius Academy. Leader of a new Finnish group called The Case, which has recently released a debut album called ”Codes.” Long time member of EBB. Worked with UMO, Fiestecita etc.

Janne Murto
Plays all kind of reeds. Master’s degree from Sibelius Academy Jazz Dept. and diploma in classical flute. Studies in USA and Cuba. Own group ”Läpimurto” is releasing its own CD soon. Worked with Avanti!, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, with Saxperiment, Trio Töykeät, UMO, Edward Vesala Sound & Fury, etc. Freelancer in studios, stage and tv. Recordings w. Tapiola Big Band, UMO, Trio Töykeät, Jukka Linkola, Avanti! and John Adams.

TROMBONES

Matti Lappalainen
Studies in Sibelius Academy since 1985. Original member of the EBB. Sought after freelancer musician in tv, theatre and recording studios. Worked with Tapiola Sinfonietta, Avanti!, UMO, Salsamania, etc.

Pekka Laukkanen

Long time member of the EBB. Member of UMO, (tours w. Natalia Cole, Manhattan Transfer) Salsamania,etc. Sought after freelance musician in tv, recording studios and theatre.

Valtteri Malmivirta

Original member of the the EBB. Studies in Sibelius Academy, Helsinki and Royal College of Music ,London. Trombonist in Finnish National Opera Orch. since 1991, Avanti! since 1986.

Janne Laine

Master’s degree in Sibelius Academy 1992. Original member of the EBB. Freelancer in Radio Symphony Orch. UMO etc., Trombone teacher in Espoo Music Institute.

TRUMPETS

Lars Lindgren

A great Swedish lead trumpetist and solo performer. Permanent guest in the EBB’s trumpet section. Plays in Sandviken Big Band and in Danish Radio Big Band.

Pemo Ojala

”Has been a freelance trumpet torturer for 20 years in several
genres. Has developed a perfect prototype of discouraging example and anxiously looks forward to the next 20 years” (own words). Member of the most famous Finnish pop orchestra The Leningrad Cowboys.

Sami Pöyhönen

Freelancer in tv, theatre (Mambo Kings, West Side Story) and danceand Latin bands included top Cuban band Conjunto Chapottin. Worked also with UMO (Manhattan Transfer Tour 1996), Avanti! and Tapiola Sinfonietta. Leader of own 12-piece salsa group Sami y su Conjunto. Studies abroad.

Mika Mylläri

Master’s degree in Sibelius Academy Jazz Dept. 1996. Studies also in New York and Paris 1993–96. Has recently been voted three times for the best jazz trumpetist in Finland by Finnish jazz magazine ” Jazzrytmit”. Long time member of the EBB. CD’s ”Heritages” (1992), and ”Les Ports” (1997) with own quintet MMQ.

RHYTHM SECTION

Lenni-Kalle Taipale, piano

Belongs to jazz piano and keyboard elite in Finland . Artist of the Year 1997 by Pori Jazz. His first CD – “Nothing to Hide” 1998 – sold for the first Gold-CD in jazz in Finland. Concerts with his trio around the world. House band in tv-studios since 1999. Latest CD “ Reset” 2001 (Naxos). Member of EBB since 1998.

Eerik Siikasaari, bass

Graduated in Sibelius Academy 1987. Jazz Musician of the Year in Finland 1995. Was elected the jazz bass player of the year 1994, -95, -96 in Finland by the Finnish Jazz Federation. Original member of the EBB. Member of the most known Finnish small jazz groups like Trio Töykeät, Jukka Linkola Tentet, and Perko-Pyysalo Poppoo. 20 years of experience in theatre productions in Finland. The most booked bass player in Finnish jazz recordings.

Rami Eskelinen, drums

Studies in Manhattan School of Music 1990–93. International prizes in jazz contests in Czechoslovakia and Belgium. Concerts all around the world with the most acclaimed Finnish jazz trio, Trio Töykeät. Worked with Miles Evans Band, Gil Evans Orchestra, Lew Soloff Quartet, Big Bad Family, etc. Was voted for the best drummer in Finland by Finnish Jazz Federation in 1995.

Jarmo Saari, guitar

The leading jazz guitarist of his generation in Finland. This versatile musician has “one foot jammed in jazz and and the other in rock”. This extraordinarily talented guitarist, arranger, composer, and producer has made his name in diverse musical ensembles like XL, Zetaboo, Filmtet, Don Huonot, Avanti!, UMO and EBB in Finland.

Jari-Pekka Karvonen, percussion

Mainly studio and freelance musician. Dozens of recordings and TVprogrammes. Played with Paguito D’ Rivera, Alex Acuna, Machito, Ignacio Berroa, Mario Bauza, Jose Feliciano, Arturo Sandoval, Omara Portuondo, etc.


www.ebb.fi