Mikko Karjalainen Fellowship Quintet - Fellowship (2020)

One of the leading Finnish jazz bands, Mikko Karjalainen Fellowship Quintet, collaborates with the top name of Finnish hip-hop, Paleface, on their Fellowship album.

Mikko "Gunu" Karjalainen is one of Finland's busiest trumpet players, and has collaborated with both the top names in jazz music and in pop (including Mariska). Karjalainen has played with international jazz legends (e.g. Kenny Garrett, John Scofield and Dave Kikoski) as well as in several top domestic jazz ensembles, including Ricky Tick Big Band & Julkinen Sana.

In addition to Gunu, the album will also feature the most coveted artists of their own instruments: double bassist Antti Lötjönen, saxophonist Petri "Pope" Puolitaival, drummer Jussi Lehtonen and Estonian piano virtuoso Holger Marjamaa.

Gunu’s compositions are strongly based on the jazz tradition, but at the same time contemporary. As is typical of the spoken word artist, Paleface’s lyrics deal with extremely topical issues, such as the growing threat of climate change as evidenced by the single A Second Notice.