Finnish Jazz Artist Pekka Pylkkänen Releases His Listen! Album Digitally

Finnish jazz artist, saxophonist Pekka Pylkkänen has released his third album, "Listen!", digitally on Blue Music Group. Featuring an all-Finnish lineup, the album contains a complete set of original compositions by Pylkkänen, which he has showcased on his many recent tours in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Pekka Pylkkänen (born in Helsinki, Finland, September 23, 1964) is a saxophonist, composer, jazz artist and educator, who has worked with many orchestras and groups during his career. Additionally, he has participated as a sideman with greats such as Vince Mendoza, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Mercer Ellington, Bob Mintzer, Dave Liebman, Michael Abene, Odean Pope, and many others.

Pylkkänen's own group has performed in Finland, Denmark, Norway, The United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, The United States, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Japan. He has appeared in more than five-hundred concerts abroad during the past eight years.

Pylkkänen has held master classes in improvisation, composition, ensemble playing and more, at Ingesund College of Music (Sweden), PAN School of Music (Tokyo Japan), Nagasaki University (Japan), EMU Education Musical (La Plata/Argentina), Collegium CEIM (Córdoba/Argentina), Souza Lima Conservatory (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Universidad de Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil), EMESP Tom Jobim (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Escuela de Musica Contemporanea (Buenos Aires/Argentina), Jazz House Lima (Lima/Peru), ISIM Conference (Chicago/USA), IASJ Meetings (Helsinki/Finland, Siena/Italy), MIDI School of Music (Beijing/China), Shanghai University (China), Contemporary Music Institute (Beijing/China), Institute for Performing Arts (Beijing/China), Carl Nielsen Academy /Denmark), Hong Kong Institute for Education, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Koyo Conservatory (Kobe/Japan), Tokyo College of Music (Japan).

His two first CDs were released by Naxos Jazz. The latest album, on Blue Music Group, is called Listen!.

"Pylkkänen is among the jazz elite in his native Finland. A stalwart member of the fabled UMO Jazz Orchestra, Pylkkänen shows his crafty wares on his solo debut for Naxos Jazz.On Pekka's Tube Factory, the multi-reedman displays a fine compositional pen, expressive, accomplished technical skilss and a keen ear for arranging."
-Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz

"The Finnish wind specialist Pylkkänen leads a tight sextet trough moody, atmospheric pieces that explore with a purpose... As accomplished a group of musicians as these are, the human element is always present - a touchstone on the mournful but beautiful Lumi and a vivid theme in the intertwined layers of The Picture of Dorian Gray, an evocative take on the beuty and sadness of twisted desire."
-Hilarie S. Grey, JazzTimes

"He certainly maintains a very individual and always interesting sound."
-John Henry, Audiophile Audition

"Pekka Pylkkänen is back with another notable collection of razor sharp contemporary jazz. Pylkkänen, once again, blows through his variety of winds on this collection of mostly his originals."
-C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz