Martin Söderbacka & Eevalotta Matikainen
Northern Sky (2024) ELiveCD 004
featuring Joonaran Rautio, David Lyttle

Martin’s and Eevalotta’s compositions resonate in a clear sound of the Nordic landscapes while still relying on the harmonies and swing of the American jazz tradition. The music on the album can be described as contemporary jazz with Scandinavian flavours that sets a playground for the musicians to create rhythmic and harmonic adventures. Guitarist Martin Söderbacka and bass player Eevalotta Matikainen are known to perform atmospheric and multifaceted music that strongly lives in the moment combined with straight ahead swing. The duo often utilizes effect pedals and the diversity of sounds from their instruments to create a unique sound as a duo.

Söderbacka-Matikainen Duo
Christmas (2022) ELiveCD 003

Guitarist Martin Söderbacka and bassist Eevalotta Matikainen have invited a number of guests for their album: Simon Granlund (vocals), Mikael Svarvar (vocals, piano), Charlotta Kerbs (vocals), Mika Mylläri (trumpet), Jonas Rintala (saxophone) and Mikko Pettinen (flugelhorn, trumpet). The trilingual album contains new arrangements of old Christmas hymns and traditional Finnish and Swedish Christmas songs such as “Av himlens höjd”, Tonttujen Jouluyö (Tomtarnas Julnatt), “O Helga Natt” and ”Varpunen Jouluaamuna in English, Finnish and Swedish as well as instrumental pieces. The album was produced by Söderbacka and Matikainen.

The music on this album is atmospheric as Martin and Eevalotta also utilize effects and versatile tones from the double bass and the archtop jazz guitar. The well known melodies are veiled in the hands of the ensemble into fresh arrangements, that attract the listeners to stop and get into the holiday feel.

The second album of this super-energetic and virtuosic Finnish soul/jazz quintet. This studio album is a modern jazz album, crossing characters of funk, jazz and soul music with intensive energy, shrilling improvisations and soulful vocals. The album contains five instrumental tracks and three vocal tracks.

”What Lies Ahead” was recorded between April and May 2016. Drums, saxophone, grand piano and most of all vocal and wurlitzer tracks were recorded live on an two day session at Midas Studios in Raippaluoto, Finland. The bass- and guitar tracks along with some vocal- and wurlitzer tracks were recorded at ELive Music Studios in Kälviä, Finland.

The Silver Lining is the debut album by Soul What?. All tracks on this album are original pieces by Soul What? and the album was recorded in 2011-2013. Most of the songs on this album started from bass riffs, bass rhythms and lines that inspired lyrics and melodies written in collaboration by Matikainen, Söderbacka and Hertteli. The music is filled with sweet guitar harmonies played by Martin Söderbacka, innovative drumming by Toni Porthén, soulful lines by singer and keyboard player Mikael Svarvar, sensitive and dreamy vocals by Riikka Elisabet Hertteli and groovy bass playing by Eevalotta Matikainen. The second vocal solist on this album is the talented soul- and gospel artist Mikael Svarvar. This album features two vocal duets with Mikael Svarvar and Riikka Elisabet Hertteli on tracks 6 and 11. Guest musicians on this album are Mika Mylläri on trumpet and Estonian saxophone player Siim Aimla.