I know, I haven’t been too active posting news here… Many nice things have happened: In the summer I played a couple of concerts in Europe with my dear old trio, first time since Feb 2020… felt so good! Some very nice festivals here and there also with Quartet Ajaton, John Hollenbeck Quartet, Iceland’s Liberation Orchestra etc… and in the autumn had some very nice tours – in Finland, Estonia and Hungary with Quartet Ajaton, in Belgium with Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, and a fabulous solo tour in Japan and Australia, following by a couple of inspiring gigs in Finland with Jeff Denson and Gerald Cleaver.

Jesse Passennier’s album “Fight for Light” was recently released… including a piano concerto he wrote for me! It was recorded a year ago in Alicante with the great ADDA Simfònica and maestro Josep Vicent !!! More info here.

Future activities Dec-May include concerts and recordings with Ara Yaralyan’s new band and Vilkka Wahl’s KAIHO ensemble, a concert at Global Fest with our new exciting band Wishamalii, a few gigs with Quartet Ajaton, a very special new duo with Australian bassist/singer Helen Svoboda at Iisalmi Jazz Festival, rehearsing new music for our 3rd album with Orchestra Nazionale della Luna, and a tour in Finland with my new Quartet Al-Qantara: Kheir-eddine M’Kachiche, Anders Jormin and Markku Ounaskari !!! And another super exciting new duo with the extraordinary Belgian saxophonist Fabrizio Cassol… so much great things to look forward, and to compose & practise for. Happy times ahead!