Music for piano, cello and violin

Walter Wolff, who was born in Finland and had a great career as a jazz pianist in his country of study in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, ended his career as a jazz pianist in 2012 and switched to composing classical music. On the now-published album, you can hear chamber music composed by Wolff, from a solo violin piece to a piano trio. Wolff elegantly combines rhythms from jazz and the atmosphere of improvisation in a very wide range of classical music. The album's atmospheres move from fiery rhythmicity to calm, almost meditative relaxation. The great musicians playing on the album make the album a very interesting and enjoyable whole.
Walter Wolff's determined debut as a composer

Walter Wolff is or actually was a Finnish-Swedish jazz pianist who studied in Holland and had such an international career that even Markus Partanen didn't really know him when I asked. In 2012, Wolff had to stop playing the piano and channeled his creativity into composing art music. The results of the change of genres have now been obtained on the Alba company's new album, which is marked by the freshness brought by the jazz background and, especially for a debut, a special determination. Wolff's background is reflected in the musicians on the album. Pianist Gabi Sultana, who specializes in contemporary music, has an influence in Belgium, multi-genre violinist Merel Junge in Holland, and RSO solo cellist Tomas Nuñez-Garcés from Åland plays the cello on the album. The disc contains two small piano trios, a full-size cello sonata and solo pieces for violin and piano. Wolff's musical language includes European art jazz. Stylized genre references to the directions of jazz and art music, clear or rhythmic rhythms, sonorously juicy jazz harmonies and block thinking familiar from jazz structures distinguish Wolff from the evenly composed group of academically trained composers. The music is driven by scale and harmony, while textures and timbres do not receive much attention from Wolff. Because of these characteristics, the music lacks the kind of plasticity and organic development that art music composers achieve even with small ensembles. Wolff is a beginner as a composer but experienced as a musician, so I bet that he can quickly acquire more technical skills with the help of a few composition lessons - if he wants to. Even as such, Wolff's music appeals. The expression is emotional, powerful and sometimes has very dark tones, but its execution remains translucently clear and is easy to follow. Wolff knows what he wants to compose, and it is conveyed better on the album than on composers' debut albums in general. The musicians on the album represent the new, skilled generation of art musicians who understand great rhythmicity and swing. Especially Gabi Sultana's pianism convinces. Still, the playing is sometimes more art musical than the music might require. Especially in the extreme parts of the cello sonata, I miss more elasticity and less pathos, even if the music deals with frustration and internalization in the face of a forced change of genre. As such, the album is also an excellent indication of the interesting line of the current head man of the Alba company, Erkki Nisonen. Composer Walter Wolff may not be a finished product, but at least his music is firmly grounded in the reality of art music in 2018, and there's a story to it. It's meaningful to make such records. Walter Wolff: Cello Sonata; General Impression, Size and Shape; Trio #1; Trio #2; Five short pieces for piano; Fugue. - Gabi Sultana, piano, Tomas Nuñez-Garcés, cello, and Merel Junge, violin. (Alba, ABCD 422) New records 13/03/2018, edited by Kare Eskola.
Walter Wolff: Music for piano, cello and violin (Alba)

Finnish-Swedish Walter Wolff has changed sports. Wolff himself succinctly states in the cover booklet of the Music for piano, cello and violin album: "This album is part of the work I started in 2012, when I ended my career as a jazz pianist and started composing classical music." The genre change is very successful, and the novelty of the Alba company, which is used to producing quality records, is the most excellent record for both classical music and jazz lovers. The album features Wolff's jazz background as well as his fresh enthusiasm for classical music. The composer himself does not play on the record, but pianist Gabi Sultana, cellist Tomas Nuñez-Garcés and violinist Merel Junge are responsible for the music. The disc contains two small piano trios, a cello sonata and solo pieces for violin and piano. Wolff's smooth tonal language contains a lot of contemporary European art jazz. In terms of expression, versatile music is fun to listen to.