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Iiro Rantala
Anyone With A Heart

VÖ: 28.02.2014

Genre: Piano Jazz

No longer available

ACT 9566-2, 614427956620

iiro rantala / piano
adam bałdych / violin
asja valcic / cello

all music composed by iiro rantala

except #10 composed by harold arlen

recorded at emil berliner studios, berlin, october 29 & 30, 2013
recorded, mixed and mastered by klaus scheuermann

cover art by joel shapiro, (c) 2012, courtesy galerie karsten greve

With "Anyone With A Heart", Iiro Rantala, definitively showing himself to be a great Neo Romantic, beyond all stylistic limitations: "Now it's simply about my melodies." And he conceived all of them from the outset for the classical form of the piano trio: piano, violin and cello. It is a form that is quite unique in jazz. The trio is completed by the consummately virtuoso all-rounder Adam Baldych (violin) and Asja Valcic (cello), who also has her background in classical music. "I have always loved melodies," says Rantala and that's it, what "Anyone With A Heart" shows!

Iiro Rantala

"Intelligence, humor, a lot of sentiment, unpredictable ideas, and exquisite piano craftsmanship" (FAZ). Finnish pianist Iiro Rantala is described as "a force of nature at the keys" (Jazz Thing). For nearly 20 years, he dominated jazz stages across Europe and beyond with the anarchic trio Töykeät. His subsequent ACT debut album, "Lost Heroes," marked a turning point in his music. While unrestrained exuberance had previously ruled, Rantala now seeks and finds strength in melody, harmony, and deep emotion. His mischievousness still shines through, along with his outstanding classical piano skills. Rantala manages a delicate balance in many ways. He's celebrated by critics, receiving accolades like the German Record Critics' Annual Award, the ECHO Jazz, the Finnish EMMA Award, and many more. Simultaneously, he's a favorite of audiences, performing at hundreds, if not thousands, of concerts. Whether in classical temples like the Berlin Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie, Konzerthaus Berlin, Philharmonie Köln, or in jazz clubs and festivals throughout Europe, he captivates audiences. Whether performing solo, as a trio, or with a full orchestra, Rantala traverses jazz, classical, pop, and Nordic songs. He combines sentiment and melancholy with a lot of wit and charm. In short, he's a master of modern, boundless piano playing.