Press release: The talented Finnish bass and accordion duo Lepistö & Lehti operate at the forefront of contemporary acoustic music with a distinct Nordic folky/jazzy influence and a strong sense of musical dialogue. They have a highly personal sound with remarkable confidence and vision. Helsinki is their debut album. Read more for the full press release.
Lepisto & Lehti is a critically acclaimed duo of Finnish master musicians Markku Lepistö (accordion) and Pekka Lehti (bass)(the latter also runs Alto Records, the label that gave the world Sväng, the Finnish harmonica quartet featured famously on the 2009 New Year’s Eve Later...With Jools Hootenanny show on BBC 2 TV). As a result of creative conversations they shared, whilst seated next to each other on Värttina tours, the duo decided to embark on a new musical mission together.
Both well-respected Finnish music virtuosos in their own right, Lepisto & Lehti play original material from their respective projects, approaching the material from a new angle. The duo operates at the forefront of contemporary Nordic world music, but at the same time, their sound could be described as having a distinct chamber music and jazz influences.
On stage, Lepisto & Lehti share a vision of contemporary minimalism. There is space within this music, and the two musicians each have a different musical history to tap into. This translates into a highly personal sound with remarkable confidence and vision.
Lepisto & Lehti’s debut album Helsinki has already been shortlisted for the prestigious Teosto award in Finland (it was released there in 2008). The prize is granted annually for an outstanding musical achievement. They have also been booked for WOMAD Charlton Park.
"Lepistö & Lehti are those rare musicians whose performance so thoroughly engages that one quickly forgets they are a duo and hears, instead, a full, complete musicial experience, an ensemble. These are musician’s musicians who approach live performance as nuanced, graceful, conversation, ever exploring, expanding, commenting, informing." Gerald Seligman, General Director Womex
Helsinki
