Already two albums into their recording career, guitarist Milo Mäkelä and drummer Mooses Kuloniemi have garnered praise from critics and fans alike (“Mooses” is, of course, the Finnish spelling of “Moses”).
Their own webpage describes them as “groove jazz from Phinland.” They’ve attracted attention from some of Finland’s biggest media outlets and performed on some of the most sought-after stages in the country, such as Helsinki’s influential Flow Festival. The duo’s CV is nothing short of remarkable, especially when you consider that their records are released by a prominent Finnish label, KHY Suomen Musiikki, rather than a large foreign publisher.
Deceptively simple, yet demanding
A flood of light and music: Milo Mäkelä (left) and Mooses Kuloniemi (right) team up with bassist Jon Pettersson.Photo: Esa Kuloniemi
They released their debut album, Milo & Moses, in 2015 on vinyl and online only. From the first notes, it’s evident that the music is rooted in the effortlessly flowing jazz of the likes of guitar legend Wes Montgomery – a shared favourite of the two.
Jon Pettersson accompanies them on bass; the trio formation of guitar, drums and bass is deceptively simple, yet extremely demanding musically. The sound is sparse, and the musicians’ interaction and ability to use the space provided is the key. There’s no place to hide; everyone needs to pull their own weight.
Featuring classics by John Coltrane, Weldon Irvine, Wes Montgomery and others, Milo & Moses’s first recording proved that they not only have talent and potential, but also the ability to execute their musical vision. Their music swings, flows and breathes naturally with a maturity beyond their age.
Their second album, 2017’s Among Friends, delighted listeners with original tunes that did not pale in comparison to the cover versions of jazz classics on their debut. In fact, the energy of tracks such as “Je!” and the long-form dynamics of the epic “Headache” showcase yet another level of the band’s capabilities.
No need for genres
Milo Mäkelä on guitar, Mooses Kuloniemi on drums and Jon Pettersson on bass perform at Kunsthalle Helsinki for the gallery’s 90th anniversary celebration and the opening of “An Everlasting Spring of Colour,” a retrospective of Markku Keränen’s work (one of his paintings is visible behind Kuloniemi).Photo: Esa Kuloniemi
“I met Milo when we were in eighth grade,” Kuloniemi explains. “He had just moved to town and was asking around for anybody interested in playing jazz. It didn’t take long until we were jamming.”
“We started off by playing tracks that we both loved, jazz classics and such,” says Mäkelä. “Actually, at that time I couldn’t play jazz properly yet, but I didn’t want to admit that to Mooses, so I just had to learn. I think we’ve learned to play jazz together, and sometimes when we play, I’m blown away by the fact that we can actually both improvise together in the moment. That’s very rare.”
Given how easy it is to access practically any music in the world online nowadays, it’s no surprise that Mäkelä and Kuloniemi say that they are far from jazz purists.
“My range is wide, from Clean Bandit to Count Basie, and from Tom Waits to Egotrippi,” Mäkelä says. “I also play in a pop group, and I would say that I’m first and foremost a songwriter. In fact, I don’t even like to think in terms of genres.”
Kuloniemi plays together with his mother and father in a blues band called Honey B. Family, and he occasionally sits in with the Jimi Hendrix tribute band Room Full of Hendrix.
Tangible stories
Drummer Mooses Kuloniemi (left) and guitarist Milo Mäkelä are just beginning their jazz journey.Photo: Klaus Elfving
While it’s natural that any jazz musician under 20 is just beginning their journey, Milo & Moses have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, both on vinyl and on stage.
They successfully hold their own in concert lineups that include prominent jazz veterans, and they can also deliver an entertaining performance when it comes to explaining the background of their compositions to the audience. Their stories have very tangible subjects, and energy usually runs high at a Milo & Moses gig.
“Right now, we just want to play as many gigs as possible and keep practicing a lot,” says Kuloniemi. “The next step is to make new tunes.”
So far, they’ve only played domestic gigs, but at the rate things are developing, don’t be surprised when Milo & Moses start popping up on international festival bills, too.
By Matti Nives, April 2018
