Album Notes

The harmonica has been important instrument for Finnish folk players since 1850´s. Besides traditional Finnish harmonica style SVäNG takes influences of music from all around the world: The unique sounding quartet plays Finnish tango and folk music, but takes also influences of groovy Balkan-style, Swedish hambo as well as old time -fiddle dance tunes or rag time. Big part of the repertuar is original works by the band members.

The combining element in this unique mixture of styles is the original groove created by the rare chord harmonica Harmonetta and the ultimate low bass harmonica. On the swinging groove the two virtuoso soloists create rich melodies with their diatonic and chromatic harmonicas with a strong, improvising attitude and joy of playing!

The aim of SVäNG is to give a new life to the extraordinary sound of harmonica band with music that has not been played on this kind of band before. The debut cd of SVäNG has succesfully captured the fascinating feel of their energetic live performances.

SVäNG:

Eero Turkka chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Eero T. started Sväng together with his former teacher Jouko Kyhälä. Eero has composed major part of SVäNG repertuar. Besides harmonica he plays several other ethnic instruments and sings in multiple bands.

Eero Grundström chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Eero G. is also a multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser wizard. He is the most well known experimental harmonium player in Finland.

Jouko Kyhälä chord harmonica Harmonetta, chromatic and diatonic harmonicas
Jouko is a teacher of harmonica, improvisation, band work etc. at the Sibelius Academy folk music department. At the moment he is making his doctoral studies of harmonica for the Sibelius Academy music university. In a couple of years he will become the first doctor of harmonica in Finland, maybe even Europe. Jouko appears as a musician and composer in several bands and on over 15 cd´s of different groups.

Pasi Leino bass harmonica
Pasi is the grand old man of Finnish bass harmonica players. He used to play in the famous Raimo Sirkiä harmonica quartet in 1980´s and early 90´s. The group won the European championship of harmonica bands in Trossingen, Germany.