A quartet with a voice ensemble. The new Graduale album album consists of choir arrangements of old medieval melodies and of Winter new original instrumental songs. The Graduale melodies are the oldest written music in Finland and is a part of the Graduale Aboense hymnbook that was used during the 14th-15th century in the Turku Cathedral.

Now the melodies are in ‘new clothes’ with polymodal harmonies sung by the choir and improvised parts played by the quartet consisting of Henry Lowther on trumpet, Niklas Winter on guitar, Severi Pyysalo on vibraphone and Juho Laitinen on cello. The Utopia Chamber Choir is singing the vocal parts on the recording.

Niklas Winter’s professional career spands from the early 90’s playing yearly over 50 concerts internationally both in clubs, concerts and festivals including London Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz Festival, Turku Music Festival, Tampere Jazz Happening, Yokohama Jazz Promenade and Beijing Modern Music Festival to name a few.

Henry Lowther is a trumpet legend. He is one of Englands most recorded musicians of all time and he has played and recorded with names like Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Manfred Mann, Jack Bruce, John Mayall, Van Morrison to name a few. Lowther has also played lead trumpet in the Gil Evans, Charlie Watts and George Russell Big Bands and currently with the London Jazz Orchestra.

Severi Pyysalo ranks among one of the best vibraphone players in the world. He has performed in many major jazz festivals in Finland and abroad including Pori Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and many more. He has done concerts with Sarah Vaughan, Paquito D’Rivera, John Scofield to name a few.

Juho Laitinen is a contemporary classical cello player that moves freely between the classical avantgarde and jazz.

The Utopia chamber choir founded in 2001, is one of Finland’s leading vocal ensembles, performing at home and abroad
with world-renowed conductors, orchestras and soloists.