Teemu Viinikainen

"Tales of Robert Dickson" is the latest solo album, from Teemu Viinikainen, the talented Jazz guitarist and band leader from Helsinki jazz scene, who's playing list includes Finland Trio and U-Street Allstars. He's the winner of many awards, including the Sony Jazz Award on 2004 (which is won by Jukka Eskola on 2005 another artist I love and will feature in the future). This is a captivating quartet album, beginning right from the first track Sneaking Part I, an atmospheric guitar jazz track beginning with Teemu's wah guitar playing a great riff and digressing from there. The second track I chose is `Second Thought`, which is mellower and not as adventurous as the first one, but have a great melody and trumpet work by American trumpeter Tim Hagans as well. Very mature and humble album that displays the ability this guy has on writing little songs and/or improvising that really have a sound and life on their own.