15 Questions to Iiro Rantala / Trio Töykeät

Foremost, Iiro Rantala is a Jazz pianist. His band, the Trio Töykeät, is considered to be Finland's number one in the genre and they have secured themselves a deal with the legendary, revivitalised and rehyped Blue Note Label. They celebrated this feat in 2004 with the release of an albm filled with rather unusual cover versions (including David Bowie's "Starman" and Black Sabbath's "Paranoid"). In his heart, however, he always kep a not-too secret fire for Prokofiev, Rachmaninov and Bernstein burning, only waiting to be stirred and unleashed. In 2002, he was asked to write a piano concerto by the manager of the Tapiola Sinfonietta and gladly obliged. In a strenous and unusual creation process, he wrote tons of material, only to cut it down to size right afterwards. The result (released on Ondine) is the most unprobable mixture of bigband jazz, romantic and impressionist influences, quiet and intimate passages, ecstatic outbursts, as well as moments of utter weirdness. It is also a totally singular vision of what music in a classical concert hall can sound like. In our interview, Iiro admits being in love with harmony, assure us he likes to jump over borders, instead of building them and assumes the music busines is going straight down to hell. Now please someone tell him, what a "magnum opus" is!

Hi! How are you? Where are you?
Very well, thanks.

What’s on your schedule right now?
Few days off between gigs. Jyväskylä and Pori are the next ones.

What’s your view on the music scene at present? Is there a crisis?
I think the music scene is going to hell, including all the musicians.

What does the term „new“ mean to you in connection with music?
There isn´t so much new stuff nowadys. I´m trying to reflect my personatily in my music and compose/play the stuff I love.

How do you see the relationship between sound and composition?
I dont really think about the sound. The compositions is very important in my Trio. It always comes first.

How strictly do you separate improvising and composing?
Very strictly. Our way is close to a classical chamber trio exept we improvise in the "middle".

How would you define the term “interpretation”?
Sorry. I dont have a definition for that.

Harmony? Dissonance? The freedom to choose both, none or just one?
Harmony is good. In life and in music.

A lot of people feel that some of the radical experiments of modern compositions can no longer be qualified as “music”. Would you draw a border – and if so, where?
I dont like to build borders. I would rather jump over. People should listen the music they like. Many people love modern classical music.

Are “serious” and “popular” really two different types of music or just empty words without a meaning?
They sure have no meaning for me.

Do you feel an artist has a certain duty towards anyone but himself? Or to put it differently: Should art have a political/social or any other aspect apart from a personal sensation?
It used to have a political role in 60-70´s but that didn´t bring any comfort to the situation. Music is music and politics is something totally different.

True or false: People need to be educated about music, before they can really appreciate it.
False. Anyone with a heart can enjoy music.

True or false: The cultural subsidies doled out by governments are being sent to the wrong kind of people and institutions.
False. Not in Finland. They are shared equally between classical, jazz, folk and rock musicians.

You are given the position of artistic director of a festival. What would be on your program?
Trio Töykeät, Antti Sarpila swing band.

Many artists dream of a “magnum opus”. Do you have a vision of what yours would sound like?
Sorry. I´m not familiar with the term.

Have a great summer!

Discography:
With Trio Töykeät:
Päivää (1990)
G'Day (1993) Emarcy
Jazzlantis (1995) Emarcy
Sisu (1997) Universal
Kudos (2003) Universal
High Standards (2004) Blue Note
Wake (2005) Blue Note

Solo:
Concert for Piano and Concerto in G♯ΔA♭ (2006) Ondine

Homepage:
Trio Töykeät