[Harp-L] New CD from Svang, featured European harmonica band at SPAH this year

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

SPAH 2008 will feature a performance by the modern harmonica quartet from Finland, Sväng. If you need any persusasion to come to SPAH (or even if you're all booked and waiting impatiently for mid-August), check out the following links.

Sväng is unusual in several ways. 

First, if course, they're Finnish. Finns, for reasons I can't explain, are big into tango, and Sväng's repertoire reflects that, along with gypsy music and other music one doesn't associate with the border area between Scandinavia and Russia. Several members also have strong backgrounds in Finnish folk music, which is quite different from tango (and from what you'll hear from most harmonica bands in the US!)

Second, they use Harmonetta instead of standard chord harmonica, which offers some added fluidity in the chord parts.

Third, they integrate diatonic harmonica, with overblows, into their ensemble sound, along with chromatic, bass, and Harmonetta.

Fourth, three of them are graduates of Finland's prestigious Sibelius Academy, and one of them actually has a doctorate in harmonica arts.

Sväng recently released their second CD, which is now available in the US from cdbaby. You can check out samples at:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/svang2

While you're there, check out the solo CD from group member Jouko Kyhälä, which features Finnish folk dance music, played on both diatonic and chromatic:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/joukokyhala

(Kyhälä is the one with the doctorate - and a modified Mohawk haircut.)

Kyhälä also makes guest appearances on a CD by Finnish diatonic accordionist Markku Lepisto:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/markku2

You can also see Sväng on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=agYGuaQ904E

and of course you can check out their website:

www.svang.fi/ 

Winslow