Introducing Maestro Jukka Iisakkila, (pronounced ‘Is-a killa’) and he is. Jukka is a true maestro and a collaborator of mine, (with creative catalyst Co de Kloet) on “The Big O” which is our orchestra project that we’ve been planning for the past 10 years. He is also a dear friend.
Jukka has conducted a multitude of orchestras and has won a plethora of awards for his brilliance, one being the conducting prize of the Royal Swedish Academy. Being from Finland he has worked much with the Tampere Filharmonia and has chosen this world class Orchestra to perform and record my most cherished compositions. It’s fascinating to witness him at work wielding a baton as if it’s a wizards wand manifesting a supernatural ether of spectacular illuminations.
It took 3 grueling yet glorious days to complete the most dense and intense of these compositions “Expanding the Universe.” This clip is from the last movement of that piece, and I can’t wait for you to hear it when it’s all complete.
I have had the great privilege to work with many fine conductors, but Jukka has an intimate understanding of my music like non other and is bringing to life these compositions with the greatest of care, attention, and love. I cannot believe my good fortune in having such a renown maestro handle what I consider to be my very heart in notational form.
And get this… he’s also a kick-ass guitar player!
Wow.
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