Global Journey Series: Jussi Reijonen Nonet

Jussi Reijonen, fretless & fretted electric guitars, classical guitar, oud | Hermon Mehari, trumpet & flugelhorn | TBD, trombone | Layth Sidiq, violin | Naseem Alatrash, cello | Utar Artun, piano | Kyle Miles, acoustic & fretless bass |Keita Ogawa, percussion | Vancil Cooper, drums

The Finnish oud player and guitarist, along with eight incredibly talented musicians (and friends) from around the globe, take listeners on a spirited transcultural journey. Reijonen will be showcasing pieces from his new recording Three Seconds/Kolme Toista (out October 7, 2022 on Challenge Records International), an epic genre-hopping album featuring the same ensemble as the concert, with all-star musicians from Iraq/Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Japan, the U.S. and Finland.

Jussi, who lived all over the world as a child including the Middle East and North East Africa as well as his native Finland, writes compositions that draw from the deep pool of influences and experiences as a world traveler. The suite from Three Seconds/Kolme Toista lets the open spaces and silences of the Finnish Arctic converse with the maqamat of the Arab world, the rhythmic richness of Africa and India and the improvisatory spirit of American jazz over its 42-minute, 5-movement span. The record reveals an artist seeking a new musical syntax that challenges cultural binaries while promoting transcultural dialogue and conversation beyond mere identity politics.

Over the years, Reijonen has collaborated with Jack DeJohnette, Pepe de Lucía, Javier Limón, David Fiuczynski, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba, Arto Tunçboyacıyan, Dave Weckl, Hüsnu Şenlendirici and the New York Gypsy All-Stars, among others. He has performed extensively at prestigious festivals and venues throughout the United States like Lincoln Center and the Library of Congress, as well as in Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Canada and Lebanon.

All nine of the musicians for the evening have some sort of association with Berklee College of Music, whether as a student, a professor or both. The music they make together has elements of jazz, classical, Arabic, and Indian music, often all with the same piece. It will surely be an invigorating night to remember.