We Jazz Finland Vinyl & CDs

Review: Given that Olli Avhenlahti released his debut album way back in 1975, you'd forgive the Finnish pianist-composer slowing down a little in his old age. Mirror Mirror, his latest gorgeous and thoroughly entertaining full-length excursion, arrives some seven years after its' predecessor, Gilles Peterson favourite Thinking, Whistling. Beginning with the gorgeously warm and sun-kissed title track, Avhenlahti and his trusted band of players lay down a series of killer cuts that invariably join the dots between contemporary jazz, jazz-dance and jazz-funk. It's a format that offers the perfect platform for Avhenlahti to show his skills on Rhodes electric piano and his trusty Oberheim synthesiser. Naturally he does that, sparring with sax and trumpet soloists over some seriously sumptuous grooves.