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 Finnish band JPP celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and will be carrying out the band's 12th tour to the US and Canada September 30 through October 7. JPP has toured and performed on every continent and has a collection of nine albums to their credit. The members include in this tour are; Tommi Pyykönen, Arto Järvelä, Matti Mäkelä, Mauno Järvelä (fiddles); Timo Alakotila (harmonium); and Antti Järvelä (acoustic bass).
JPP Järvelän pikkupelimannit (“Little Folk Musicians of Järvelä”) formed in 1982 in the fiddling capital of Finland (and perhaps the world), Kaustinen. Born from the fiddling tradition of the Järvelä family, in Järvelä village in Kaustinen, JPP’s musical roots go back to the 19th century. Their initial spark came from the local and national folk music boom in the 80s, particularly the phenomenal national success of Kaustinen fiddler/composer Konsta Jylhä, and their distinctive skills at composing and arranging immediately emerged, forming the basis for their style, appeal and future career.
JPP members have experience and training in musical genres outside folk music, for example classical and jazz, therefore expanding the scope of their music far wider than ordinary fiddle groups. In effect, JPP have created a style all their own, one that is impossible to categorize easily and one which continuously surprises.
Throughout its 25-year history, JPP has continually redefined itself, as well as the concept of a "fiddle band." Their newest CD Artology (2006), which features tunes written by founding member Arto Järvelä, is no exception. Here you'll find tunes that honor the Finnish folk music tradition, tunes that clearly live outside of it, an inevitable Finnish tango, and even a tribute to American swing fiddler Stuff Smith. What's always there is that trademark JPP "wall of fiddles," creative arrangements, and a playful approach to seriously great music.
Tour schedule:
Sep 29 2007 8:00P Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sep 30 2007 2:00P Center for the Arts, Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Oct 1 2007 8:00P WEST END CULTURAL CENTRE, WINNIPEG, Manitoba
Oct 2 2007 7:30P SIOUX LOOKOUT, SIOUX LOOKOUT, Ontario
Oct 3 2007 7:00P FINNISH LABOUR TEMPLE, THUNDER BAY, Ontario
Oct 4 2007 7:00P Beaner's Central, Duluth, Minnesota
Oct 5 2007 8:00P Explorer Rooms, University Center, NMU Marquette, MI
Oct 6 2007 7:00P Calumet Theatre, Calumet, Michigan
Oct 7 2007 2:00P Crystal Theatre, Crystal Falls, Michigan
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