Olavi Trio - Oh la Vie

The Olavi Trio consists of bassist Teppo Olavi Hauta-aho, trombonist Jari Olavi Hongisto and drummer Niilo Olavi Louhivuori, who share not only the same middle name but also a mutual love for free improvisation. Collectively, they represent Finnish improvisers of the past three generations, with Hauta-aho having already risen to the forefront of the music in the 1960s, Hongisto in the 1980s and Louhivuori in the beginning of the new millennium. Whereas the Olavi Trio's first album (TUM 26) featured some of their best friends, Juhani Aaltonen, Kalle Kalima and Verneri Pohjola, as special guests, their second focuses on what audiences have come to love in their live performances, namely, open and equalitarian trio improvisation. Oh, la Vie! Includes 12 compositions that were either spontaneously improvised in the studio or improvised using as a starting point themes composed by the trio's members. Like the Olavi Trio's first album, this one also closes with a song closely associated with their namesake, singer Olavi Virta, as "Kun Ilta Ehtii" gets a unique interpretation.