This enthusiasm becomes apparent early in the set. Conductor Eero Lehtimäki, a young man in a dark suit, who stands on a podium on the stage and appears taller than Finnish heavyweight boxer Helenius (2 meters), conducts with fire and flair. He picks out different groups of players with his pointy fingers while his hands move up and down, sharing an apparent, serious passion for Lassy’s music.
By the time the ensemble reaches “Sointu,” from Lassy’s latest album Trio (2021), the layering of the orchestra on this beautiful ballad makes the moment magical, if not unforgettable.
The spirit of John and Alice Coltrane comes alive during “Universal Four” from Lassy’s debut The Soul & Jazz of Timo Lassy (2007). This time the orchestra adds wild winds to the dreamy piece, and in combination with Lassy’s screaming tenor elevates it to the empyrean.
“African Rumble,” another from Lassy’s debut, is fireworks of the drummer, Lukkarinen. The man indulges in playing with the palms of his hands, and just when you are carried away in a trance, he switches to the sticks.
Boom! Bada! Boom! Bim!
This is another one for the books in Lassy’s lucrative career.
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