MUSIC | Ilkka Arola

Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine

Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine plays adventure music full of emotional expression and irresistibly catchy grooves. Exploring his imagination and the fascinating sounds of the world, the bandleader Arola writes strong visual music that takes the listeners to places. The group of five musicians from the top of the Finnish rhythmic music scene creates an interesting mix of folk and jazz expression combined with elements of pop and film music. Middle Eastern flavors are especially strong in their music.

On their newest album, Blue & Golden (Flame Jazz Records 2022), Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine continues to enjoy the sound of their traditional acoustic instruments, but also spices up the mix by embracing the electronic sounds of Turkish psychedelia and Middle Eastern dance floor music.

Ilkka Arola - Quartertone trumpet, bouzouki, vocals

Topi Korhonen - electric guitar, oud, vocals

Esko Grundström - bass, synths, vocals

Juuso Hannukainen - percussion

Okko Saastamoinen - drums

Albums

Blue & Golden (2022)

Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine_Land Ahead!_cover.jpg

Land Ahead! (2019)

From the Depths of the Earth (2017)

Music videos

Quotes

LIRA Magazine, Lars Brinck (2022):

Ilkka Arola's compositions are strongly visual music that transports the listener to different scenes and places. Mostly around the Mediterranean but sometimes there are so many superimpositions of images in my head that the result is some kind of cinematic jazz psychedelia. Very imaginative without blurring the lines.'

(translated from Swedish)

SUOMIJAZZ.COM, Pentti Ronkanen (2019):

'Ilkka Arola Sound Tagine's concert offered hypnotic groove sections, horn unisonos, percussion battles, fiery solos and fragile atmospheres. Group's set was versatile and colorful and very emotionally appealing. A bit of advertising here: this band fits to any folk, world or jazz festival and they can even put up a dabke dance party if needed.'