Edward Vesala

Edward Vesala (born Martti Vesala) (February 15, 1945 – December 4, 1999) was a Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer.

Born in Mäntyharju, he began as a drummer playing jazz and rock in the 60s, among all in such bands as the early line-up of Blues Section and Apollo. In the 70s, he led his own jazz groups, led a quartet with Polish trumpet player Tomasz Stanko, played with Toto Blanke's Electric Circus, and recorded with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. In the 80s and 90s, Vesala recorded several albums of his own compositions exhibiting a unique style that combines jazz, classical music, tango, and folk music with his own group Sound and Fury, which was an ensemble of about ten players comprised mostly of Vesala's students. Prominent players in Sound and Fury included saxophonists Jorma Tapio and Pepa Päivinen , guitarists Raoul Björkenheim and Jimi Sumen, and harpist and keyboardist Iro Haarla who was Vesala's wife.

Vesala died from congestive heart failure in Helsinki, Finland at the age of 54.

Sources

• Jazzhouse

External links

• Edward Vesala discography compiled by Dan Kurdilla
• Allmusic Guide biography of Edward Vesala by Chris Kelsey
• Eetu - 12 sessiota Edward Vesalan kanssa Documentary film on Vesala and his work with Sound and Fury by Markus Viljanen (1994)