In October, UMO and Kerkko Koskinen, an old collaborator of the orchestra, perform music from their 2007 record Agatha in a series of three concerts.

The composer has described the making of his first instrumental record a mind-blowing experience.
– This through-composed instrumental music was full of new and astonishing experiences that made me feel like I was losing my virginity again, Koskinen said ten years ago.

Agatha is of course Agatha Christie (1890–1976), the Grand Old Lady of thriller stories, and the titles of the songs also refer to these detective stories. Koskinen describes his compositions “imaginary cinematic music” and names Stravinsky and Shostakovich as sources of inspiration.

Unlike on the original recording, the soloists are members of UMO. Koskinen plays grand piano on a couple of tunes, and the conductor of the concert is Mikko Hassinen.

Kerkko Koskinen (b. 1973) is a composer and an all-round musician, best known for being a founding member, bandleader and pianist of the ensemble Ultra Bra. He also composed almost all the songs of the group. After Ultra Bra, he composed and published solo recordings every other year, until in 2012, he founded Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi with Manna, Vuokko Hovatta and Maija Vilkkumaa. His newest work, concerto for two saxophones and symphony orchestra, will be premièred in September.

The week before these concerts, Svart Records releases a vinyl pressing of Agatha (45rpm, 2 LP’s).

“It is absolutely impossible not to like Agatha. Composition offers something for everybody, whether it be the atmospheric retro feeling in the vein of Gil Evans or the style of cool and urban club jazz.” Pentti Ronkanen, SuomiJazz.com, October 2007

“It all came together as a peculiar soundtrack that sounds distinctively Kerkko Koskinen – Case Agatha. All in all, Agatha was less a concert and more a vision of something familiar and yet non-existent.” Jukka Hauru in Helsingin Sanomat, August 2007