7/10
Brian Charette (US)
That trio features two of Finland’s finest: guitarist Mathias Sandberg and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. Together they lock into a tight, intuitive groove, with the organ at the centre of a sound that shifts seamlessly from greasy and grounded to hymn-like and otherworldly. Charette’s playing is all fluency and fire—fleet-fingered runs, quicksilver ideas and a restless sense of exploration that continually reshapes the instrument’s possibilities.
A regular high-ranker in the DownBeat Critics’ Poll, where he was named Rising Star on organ, Charette balances a busy touring schedule with work as a writer and educator, delivering masterclasses worldwide and teaching in New York.
Mathias Sandberg, dubbed “one of Finland’s best-kept secrets” by Jazziz Magazine, is a globally active guitarist and composer with studies at both Manhattan School of Music and Berklee. With a heavy touring schedule across Europe and the US, he’s a key figure on the Finnish jazz circuit.
Drummer, producer and DJ Teppo Mäkynen has been a cornerstone of the Finnish scene for over three decades. With more than 150 recordings and international touring spanning Europe and Japan, he brings both drive and detail to the trio’s sound.
On stage:
Brian Charette – organ
Mathias Sandberg – guitar
Teppo Mäkynen – drums
That trio features two of Finland’s finest: guitarist Mathias Sandberg and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. Together they lock into a tight, intuitive groove, with the organ at the centre of a sound that shifts seamlessly from greasy and grounded to hymn-like and otherworldly. Charette’s playing is all fluency and fire—fleet-fingered runs, quicksilver ideas and a restless sense of exploration that continually reshapes the instrument’s possibilities.
A regular high-ranker in the DownBeat Critics’ Poll, where he was named Rising Star on organ, Charette balances a busy touring schedule with work as a writer and educator, delivering masterclasses worldwide and teaching in New York.
Mathias Sandberg, dubbed “one of Finland’s best-kept secrets” by Jazziz Magazine, is a globally active guitarist and composer with studies at both Manhattan School of Music and Berklee. With a heavy touring schedule across Europe and the US, he’s a key figure on the Finnish jazz circuit.
Drummer, producer and DJ Teppo Mäkynen has been a cornerstone of the Finnish scene for over three decades. With more than 150 recordings and international touring spanning Europe and Japan, he brings both drive and detail to the trio’s sound.
On stage:
Brian Charette – organ
Mathias Sandberg – guitar
Teppo Mäkynen – drums