Reija Lang and the well known Finnish classical/jazz violinist Mikko-Ville Luolajan-Mikkola have collaborated for four years. Mikko-Ville has played first violin at the Metropolitan Opera and he was selected as Artist of the Year 2004 at the Savonlinna Opera Festival. He has also been selected several years as the best jazz violinist in Finland.

Lang & Luolajan-Mikkola Quintet is their joint artistic effort. The band is recognised by its avant-garde and modern sound and feel. Reija writes poems and she also writes lyrics to instrumentals - on their debut album "Transit" (released 2005 on Rockadillo Record label) she has created stories for Wayne Shorter, Eric Dolphy and Mal Waldron instrumentals. Mikko-Ville has composed songs based on her original lyrics as well. The original great rhythm section members were Kari Ikonen, piano - Ville Herrala, bass and Mikko Hassinen, drums - all performing on the "Transit" album.

In autumn 2005 the rhythm section was renewed. The current rhythm section´s vibrant members are: cool Scandinavian style modernist Alexi Tuomarila on piano&keyboards - and two talented musicians studying at Sibelius Academy: Marko Lohikari on bass and Tuomas Timonen on drums. The band was elected for a Tour in 8 cities in 2005 by The Finnish Jazz Federation. The Tour concert in Kuopio received praising
critique by Pauli Vesakas of Savon Sanomat "Reija Lang´s expressive esthetics proved to be actually the same as of the opera-an entire art experience."


Bands:  Lang & Luolajan-Mikkola   Zoga   Tritones 
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