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CD No: AMCD749 by Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila called Ambra. Released: 2001

Short description:

The Review: Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and pianist Timo Alakotila have been working together for more than a decade. During this highly active and productive period collaborating in many formations, most notably as prime components in the contemporary acoustic ensemble Aldargaz, Maria's and Timo's musical alliance has grown as tight and as complimentary as can be imagined. Simultaneously soloists and accompanists, with instruments themselves that are both solo and accompanying instruments, Maria and Timo play extraordinarily sympathetically with each other, both deeply sensitive to the roles and relations of each other's hands, as if all four were part of the same being. Ambra is the first full-scale duo project from Maria and Timo. It reflects their varied musical history where tango, iskelmä (old Finnish schlager), folk music and their own imaginary music-worlds are in harmony together. Renditions of the classic songs all have new faces and new life. Perhaps the most obvious example, and most noticably characteristic of the duo's arranging style, is their interpretation of the Reino Helismaa standard "Rakovalkealla", where the subtle beauty of the melody reaches new heights. During these ten years of playing, performing, composing and arranging together, each element of Maria's and Timo's musical style and character, individually and collectively, has matured: their virtuosity continues to improve to increasingly staggering levels while the delicate melodic force of their arrangements and compositions grows ever more potent. In Ambra, the ease and lightness of the performances creates a feeling of space and timelessness that, like all Maria's and Timo's music, seduces and subdues like nothing else. Key words:

The Band: Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila Sweden

Band members:
63 Marion Göbel 153 GOBEL


CD Tracks: 1. Sininen Huvimaja - Blauer pavilion
2. Indifference - Välinpitämättömyyttä
3. Lappfjärd
4. Oradea
5. Ambra
6. Kangaspelto
7. Kuujärvi
8. Soir de Paris - Pariisin iltoja
9. Haudanmaa
10 On yö ja Tähdet Taivahalla (Rakovalkealla - Vid lägerelden)