Juli Wood Quartet - Synkka Metsa (2015)

Wood, after all, owns a big and burly tone on tenor, her husky sound, deep rhythmic accents and prolific phrasemaking consistently commanding attention.
- HOWARD REICH, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Inspired by Art Farmer's 1964 recording of Swedish folk songs, "To Sweden With Love," Chicago saxophonist Juli Wood delved into her own Finnish heritage for material to explore on her newest recording. With hauntingly beautiful melodies and harmonies that invite new interpretations, Wood and her quartet - with Alejandro Urzagaste on guitar, Clark Sommers on bass and drummer Mike Schlick - create an inspired recording of six traditional Karelian, Finnish and Aland Island songs along with two compositions by famed Finnish musician Matti Jurva. "She weaves her own straight forward statements from the horn with a great deal of heart and a real heaping helping of soul." - Jan-Erik Holmberg, Hufvudstadsbladet/Helsinki.

PERFORMERS:
Juli Wood - tenor sax
Alejandro Urzagaste - guitar
Clark Sommers - bass
Mike Schlick - drums

01. Juli Wood Quartet - Lapin Aidin Kehto Laulu (Lapland Mother's Cradle Song) (5:04)
02. Juli Wood Quartet - Taivas on Sininen Ja Valkoinen (The Sky Is Blue and White) (7:30)
03. Juli Wood Quartet - Karjalan Kunnailla (Hills of Karelia) (4:40)
04. Juli Wood Quartet - Valiaikainen (Temporary) (5:30)
05. Juli Wood Quartet - Ken Voi Tyynessa Seilata (Who Can Sail in the Calm?) (5:02)
06. Juli Wood Quartet - Toul' on Mun Kultani (There Is My Sweetheart) (3:47)
07. Juli Wood Quartet - Tuohinen Sormus (Birchbark Ring) (6:17)
08. Juli Wood Quartet - Villiruusu (Wild Rose) (3:00)