Finnish saxophonist Pauli Lyytinen makes his We Jazz solo debut with Lehto / Korpi, a widescreen environmental jazz ambient album effortlessly bringing together Lyytinen’s saxophone, field recordings and extended instrumentation. Lyytinen’s solo music is built on textural compositions, extended saxophone techniques and electro-acoustic soundscapes and layers. Think albums like Evan Parker’s “With Birds” and “Schwarzwaldfahrt” by Brötzmann/Bennink but with a whole other world of sounds to work with. Lyytinen’s work is rooted in his native Finland’s nature, finding its groove where the indoors and the outdoors meet. Lyytinen tours extensively in Finland during fall 2024 and will head out to international shows in 2025.
On Lehto / Korpi, Lyytinen plays tenor, soprano and alto saxophone, uses live effects, mellotron & percussion, and adds a subtle layer of field recordings to tie the record together. Cranes, swans and other voices familiar in the Finnish aural summer landscape bring their distinct character to the album, connecting back to the album’s dual title. “Lehto”, Finnish for grove, and “Korpi”, which roughly translates as deep forest are two sides of the same coin, working together to form a full image of an artist using his surroundings to create a deeply emotive and singular piece of work, echoing love and respect for our natural environment.
