Whilst we’ve been catching up with other Finnish exports (Timo Lassy, Dalindèo, Hot As Hel), FCQ are undoubtedly the coolest. Originally, it was envisaged the project would release the odd single but the reaction to the first 10” releases, ‘The Devil Kicks’, ‘Three Corners’ and their signature tune ‘Trading Eights’ was so positive, there was no doubt FCQ were going to go onto bigger and better.

In addition to the above-mentioned instrumentals, to get Mark Murphy to appearing on this album is a coup. They recreate the title track to his 1959 album This Could Be The Start Of Something (blimey, first Paul Anka and now jazz-swings!) along with the jazz-cat poetry of ‘Jamming (With Mr. Hoagland) he transports us to the cool of the New York jazz scene of half a century ago.

Tuomas wanted ‘an inspiring example’ of how dance floor-friendly meets the musical craftsmanship of the past and at the same time, a polished contemporary production that is as easily accessible as the music of today. Fine examples are the tracks the jazz dancers should check out, ‘Lighthouse’, ‘Straight Up’ and ‘Three Corners’.

All the musicians are brilliant and all the usual suspects are present, Teppo Mäkynen, Timo Lassy (Flute and Saxophones), Eero Koivistoinen (Tenor Saxophone), Jukka Eskola (Trumpet, Flugelhorn) and the super vibraphone of Severi Pyysalo. Also, if you’re into album covers featuring Finnish architecture, the photography and artwork of Eero Troberg, Junani Lassander and Antti Eerikäinen is on a par with the musicianship inside the jacket.

So no samplers, DJs or other digital wizardry, FCQ are truly analogically authentic. Their album title sums it up, Chasin’ The Jazz Gone By.

Five Corners Quintet - Chasin’ The Jazz Gone By (Ricky-Tick Records) Cat. No. RT007 & RTCD01 Released: 2005
Tracklisting:
01 Blue Cycles
02 Trading Eights
03 Interlope
04 This Could Be The Start Of Something
05 Straight Up
06 Three Corners
07 Case Study
08 Lighthouse
09 Before We Say Goodbye
10 Unsquare Bossa
11 The Devil Kicks
12 Jamming (With Mr. Hoagland)

Links:
Ricky-Tick www.ricky-tick.com
Spitz www.spitz.co.uk