Timo Alakotila

Composer & Musician

Releases

ALAKOTILA & RÄSÄNEN & FRIGÅRD: INFLUENCES

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Kansanmusiikki kohtaa tangon, jazzin ja improvisaation, kun Alakotila / Räsänen / Frigård tutkivat musiikkia omilta suomalaisilta ja ruotsalaisilta juuriltaan pianon, haitarin ja saksofonin kanssa. Tiukalla yhteissoitolla ja avoimin mielin he tekevät musiikkia sekä kansanmusiikin että improvisaation pohjalta. Herkällä soitolla ja hetken spontaaniudella he luovat kappaleista värikkäitä sovituksia ja eläviä äänimaisemia.
Timo Alakotila yhtenä Suomen kärkipään kansanmuusikoista ja säveltäjistä täydentää taitavalla pianonsoitollaan Elias Frigårdin saksofonin ja Markus Räsäsen haitarin tarttuvia melodioita ja intiimiä yhteissoittoa. Muusikoiden yhteinen intohimo pohjoismaiseen kansanmusiikkiin ja yhteismusisointiin kohtaa kaipauksen tutkia uutta ja venyttää kansanmusiikin rajoja sekä halun tuoda kaiken tämän ihmisten nautittavaksi.

Elias Frigård – saksofoni
Markus Räsänen – harmonikka
Timo Alakotila – piano ja harmoni
Vierailijana: Anders Hällström – viulu (raita 5)

Elias Tallarin Polska / Indifférence / Rannalla / Meodia / Linnéa & Mattias Brudmarsch / Anders 35-års Polska / El Choclo / Influénce du 7/8 / Memories / Mollisottiisi / Eskon Tango / Stockholm / Innerligheten

Julkaisija: Alakotila / Räsänen / Frigård 2019

Timo Alakotila & Ruthie Dornfeld

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ALAKOTILA TIMO & DORNFELD RUTHIE
Ruthie Dornfeld on yhdysvaltalainen jousisoittaja ja maailmanlaajuista suosiota nauttiva kansanmusiikin moniosaaja. Ruthie Dornfeldin hallitsee niin irlantilaisen, perinteisen amerikkalaisen, skandinaavisen kuin itä-eurooppalaisenkin soittotyylin. Ruthie on esiintynyt ja opettanut viulunsoittoa yli 30 vuotta ympäri maailmaa. Viulun lisäksi Ruthie soittaa myös keskiaikaista viulua (vielle). Timo Alakotila toimii muusikkona, säveltäjänä ja sovittajan sekä muun muassa opettajana Sibelius-Akatemiassa.

Ruthie Dornfeld, viulu, vielle
Timo Alakotila, piano

Piney Woods Gals / Abe’s Restaurant / Bonaparte’s Retreat / Napoleon / Cobalt & Saffron / Saltarello / Lumen valossa / Call Of The Blueling / Snowbird On The Ashbank / Old Madeira Waltz / Tango Duro / Angstunden / Triolipolska / My Dapple Gray /Prolapsus / Nuit Blanche / Nuptias / Mexinavian Jig / Reve Bohemien / Tacoma / Grey Eagle

Julkaisija: Timo Alakotila 2019

T for Three: Tula

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T for Three is a band playing dance music from 1950-1960. They premiered in Kaustinen Folk Music Festival with a big hit concert! This ensemble has a lot of positive energy and the audience can feel it immediately. The sound of the band with three incredible solists are giving a lot of satisfaction for listeners. The new album Tula features songs written by members of the cast in addition to the undying hits from the past.

Album cast
Satu Helen(vocals)
Marianne Oivo (vocals)
Vuokko Hedman (vocals)
Mauno Järvelä (violin)
Kaisa Ristiluoma (accordion)
Timo Alakotila (piano)
Petri Hakala (guitar)
Janne Virkkala (bass)

You can buy the album from:
kansanmusiikkiliitto.fi
Digeliusmusic

New solo album Timo Alakotila & Piano out now!

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timoalakotila&piano_web
Composer, musician, Professor of Arts Timo Alakotila is one of the most in-demand musicians in Finland. His fascinating touch at the keyboard of the harmonium and piano has been heard in the programs of countless ensembles. His talent as a composer and arranger is known and appreciated internationally over the genres.
Now, after working for years with other bands, he has jumped to a new adventure and released his first solo album. The official release date was 2.3.2016 when Timo Alakotila had the premiere for a solo concert in Tokyo, Japan.“I have always considered myself primarily an accompanying musician. The idea of making a solo album matured during the year 2015; I wanted to try a new way to make music without the excellent colleagues, just trying to express my music by the piano. This new adventure has felt comfortable, very challenging and inspiring!”

All the melodies on the album are composed by Timo Alakotila. In the tunes, it is possible to hear familiar, ambient and sensitive musical interpretation. At the same time the solo album introduces a very personal relationship between the pianist and the music. The melodies are composed mainly in 2015. The atmosphere shifts between sorrow and joy. The album contains also waltz, fairy tale landscape and tango.Timo Alakotila released also a sheet music book Timo Alakotila and Grand Piano which contains the same material as the album. The book is meant to be played with any instrument, not only the piano. The album gives support in reading the notes, but Alakotila encourages musicians to use their own interpretation and improvisation, which is very essential for Timo Alakotila himself.

Timo Alakotila graduated in 1992 from Helsinki Pop Jazz Conservatory. He majored in composing. His huge variety of compositions consists of concertos, musicals, dance performances and numerous arrangements. Alakotila’s primary ensembles are currently Maria Kalaniemi/ Timo Alakotila, JPP, Nordik Tree, duo May Monday with Karen Tweed (UK), Tango Orchestra Unto, Pianoilla-duo, Psalttamus and T for Three.Alakotila teaches at Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, at Limerick University, Viljandi Culture College and both Joensuu and Kokkola University of Applied Sciences. He has worked on over two hundred albums as an artistic producer, musician, composer or arranger. He has developed a method for improvisation in folk music. Timo Alakotila has received the title “Professor of Arts” in 2011 and he is currently on his third consecutive five-year composer’s grant from the Finnish Government.

Listen to two brand new songs off Timo Alakotila’s new solo album:

You can buy the album HERE.
Interview:
Timo Alakotila +358 50 5116112 timoalakotilagmail.com
More information:
Minna-Mari Roms +358 50 4135013 minna.romsgmail.com

timo-6021-mv_webPhoto by Marko Mäkinen
You can download the press release here (pdf 136kb).

Maria Kalaniemi ja Timo Alakotila Åkerö

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timoalakotila_maria_kalaniemi_akero
‘The Super Duo of Folk Music’ has already performed together for 20 years! Åkerö, released in December 2011, is their second duo album.

Album cast
Åkerö / Syyssoitto / Koskaan et muuttua saa / Kaipaus / Viola / Yötuulet / Kohti Pispalaa / Trädet / Grönbacka / Kengo-Antas vals / Ta in hiid in fiol / Vaiennut viulu / Silta /Soittajan kaipuu

Maria Kalaniemi ja Timo Alakotila: Åkerö (ÅKERÖCD011)

You can buy the album from Suomen kansanmusiikkiliitto or Digelius

T for Three, 2011

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T for Three is a new band playing dance music from 1950-1960. They premiered in Kaustinen Folk Music Festival with a big hit concert!

This ensemble has a lot positive energy and the audience can feel it immediately. The sound of the band with three incredible solists are giving a lot of satisfaction for listeners.

Album cast
Satu Helen(vocals)
Marianne Oivo (vocals)
Vuokko Hedman (vocals)
Mauno Järvelä (violin)
Kaisa Ristiluoma (accordion)
Timo Alakotila (piano)
Petri Hakala (guitar)
Janne Virkkala (bass)

You can buy the album fromSuomen kansanmusiikkiliitto

Feel free to contact Timo!

Phone: +358 50 5116112
Email: timoalakotilagmail.com
You can also be in touch by using the contact form on the contact page.
Thank you!

Links

Timo Alakotila Myspace
May Monday
Duo Timo Alakotila & Johanna Juhola
Nordik Tree
Tango Orchestra Unto|Myspace
Luna Nova
JPP|Myspace
Troka|Myspace