This year, Finnish musician and composer Jimi Tenor celebrated his 60th birthday. He couldn't have imagined a better place to do so than on stage, and so Tenor came to Hamburg with his band in March, not only to celebrate his personal anniversary, but also to record new music. Partly with Hamburg producer Tobias Levin at his Electric Avenue Studio, and partly at Lauri Kallio's Kiikala Center of the Universe Studio Complex, 'Selenites, Selenites!' - the first album by the Jimi Tenor Band - was recorded in spring 2025.

Tenor can now look back on numerous collaborations, including with Tony Allen, UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra,Kabukabu and Freestyle Man. Having attracted considerable attention in the 1990s with his idiosyncratic fusion of lounge jazz and acid techno on Sähko and Warp Records, he turned his attention increasingly to African music in the years that followed. Yet there are no genre boundaries for the multi-instrumentalist - he effortlessly combines a wide variety of styles, from Electronica and Afrobeat to Spiritual Jazz, with his unmistakable musical signature to create a unique musical experience.

During the pandemic years, Tenor decided to look for fellow musicians in his Finnish hometown of Helsinki toform a new band. As it was impossible to go to a rehearsal room or studio, the sessions took place in Jimi's kitchen as pure a cappella rehearsals. To this day, all band members are singing at the live concerts. In recent years, the band consisting of Eeti Nieminen, Heikki Tuhkanen, Ekow Alabi Savage, Lauri Kallio and Jimi Tenor has already played numerous club and festival gigs together, but had not yet released an album.

Recording for the band's debut began at Lauri Kallio's studio in Kiikala, Finland - an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere that has been converted into a recording studio aptly named Kiikala Center of the Universe Studio Complex. While the band was recording, Lauri's parents cooked for them using ingredients from the Finnish forest: chanterelle mushrooms and moose meat. After two initial sessions, the recordings were sent to Bureau B in Hamburg, who invited the band to join Tobias Levin at his Electric Avenue Studio for another session lasting several days.

As the band had already tried out and internalised most of the songs through live performances, the recordings went smoothly and often required only a single take. This quickly resulted in the eight songs that now make up 'Selenites, Selenites!' As so often in the world of Jimi Tenor, it's about space, dimensions and - of course - love, conveyed in that energetic and captivating way that makes it impossible to resist this music. Also featured on the track 'Shine All Night' is Tenor's second collaboration with Florence Adooni, the queen of Ghanaian frafra gospel.

'Selenites, Selenites!' is an impressive debut that showcases a group of virtuoso musicians in absolute joy of playing and exploring new sonic connections. This is not just any Afro-jazz album, but an extraordinary journey into a raw and unadulterated sound, as if you were standing right in front of the stage while listening to the record.

TRACK LISTING

1. Selenites
2. Some Kind Of Good Thing
3. Sunny Song
4. Universal Harmony
5. Alice In Kumasi
6. Looking For The Sunshine
7. Shine All Night
8. Furry Dice

A year on from Aura Safari and Jimi Tenor's Sensory Blending and DJs and dancers are still lost in its summer charms, but there have also been a series of standout remixes taken from the originals, which now get assembled on one vital 12": Sensory ReBlending features Willie Graff, Reverso 68 Dub, Jazz N Palms and Luminodisco.

First up is Ibiza favourite Willie Graff, who tackles the spellbinding original 'Bewitched By The Sea'. He brings a signature Balearic beat perfect for cruising around the island as the sun blazes with its dubby, swaying drums and more prominent vocal, all brought to life with delicate percussion and gentle synth pulses.?Label regular Federico Costantini aka Luminodisco also returns with a mature post-Balearic touch that douses the track in an ocean of dubby echo. Gorgeous Spanish guitars and jumbled percussion form a life raft which floats out to sea under the sultry wind motifs.

Reverso 68 is the studio-based project of Pete Herbert and Phil Mison, and over the last decade-plus, they have mastered the art of making music for swimming pools. Their version of 'Your Magic Touch' is low-slung and deep with a mid-tempo four-four groove sprinkled with tropical percussion. The muted chords are gloriously dreamy and the whole thing is perfect for early evening warm-ups.

Jazz N Palms is Hell Yeah family and is currently riding a wave of acclaim for his See Rodes (Revisades) album on his own Jazz N Palms Recordings. He flips 'Lunar Wind' into poolside perfection with heart-melting sax notes and rippling keys, soothing female tones and dubby breaks. It's a perfect soundtrack to heavenly ascent.

These remixes perfectly extend the soul-soothing pleasures of Sensory Blending with plenty of fresh but sympathetic perspective.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Bewitched By The Sea (Willie Graff Remix)
A2. Your Magic Touch (Reverso 68 Dub)
B1. Lunar Wind (Jazz N Palms Remix)
B2. Bewitched By The Sea (Luminodisco Remix)

Embark on a funky synth-drenched journey as the cosmic count Jimi Tenor reunites with Timmion Records’ soul architects Cold Diamond & Mink for yet another album. When placed side by side with the fellows’ recent effort 'Is There Love In Outer Space?', 'July Blue Skies' glides on a slightly more raw and mystical plane.

Crafted over fiery sessions between Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink, this vinyl release offers six soul-grasping tracks ranging from mellow groove to soundtrack funk. The album’s opening title song kicks off with an extended analog synth intro which eventually develops into a sweet romantic invocation, painting a sonic canvas reminiscent of a boundless summer sky. The most vocal tune of this quite instrumental set of songs 'Sky Train Baby' propels the listener on a locomotive ride through the star systems while 'Venus of Barsoon' with its drum breaks and fuzz sounds blast you straight into sci fi movie funk territory.

The album’s B-side opens with 'Ikuchi', where Tenor’s always trusted flute and tenor sax take the spotlight over the slinky library beats. Closing the album we discover two single releases, the sublime 'Summer Of Synesthesia' and the demonic 'Tsicroxe' both completely worthy to hear sequenced inside this album as well. This album might be just the Spring jam that you needed in your life.

TRACK LISTING

1. July Blue Skies
2. Sky Train Baby
3. Venus Of Barsoon
4. Ikuchi
5. Summer Of Synesthesia
6. Tsicroxe

"A positive sonic chocolate box".
With Sähkömies, Jimi Tenor released his legendary solo debut in 1994 on Puu, a spin-off of the Finnish label Sähkö Recordings founded by Tommi Grönlund and Mika Vainio in 1993. Recorded in Tenor's former home in New York, the album offers a previously unheard mixture of drum machine driven, electronic sounds and Sun Ra-inspired jazz. Written, recorded and produced entirely by Tenor in his apartment, the pieces have lost none of their spontaneous, roughcast charm to this day.

TRACK LISTING

Theme Sax
Crazy Hammond
Union Ave
Take Me Baby
Matti B
Teräsmies
Voimamies
Travelin Dem Spaceways

Multi-genre album with crossover potential, blending jazz, soul, funk, and electronics. Cult artist active since the early 1990s who has released records on labels like Warp and Kindred Spirits. Fresh collaboration between singular vocalist/musician and the Cold Diamond & Mink band. LP Housed in vintage style Tip-On Sleeve. There are certain occasions when you can truly feel the stars align. One of these is when the interstellar voyager of cosmic soul Jimi Tenor finally lands his spaceship at full force on a Timmion recording. In 2024, he will be serving us two spaced out album sessions recorded together with Cold Diamond & Mink. Jimi is no stranger in these space ways as he has operated behind the Timmion scenes for years, furnishing several of the label’s artists with his flute and reeds artistry. The first album out is titled “Is There Love In Outer Space?”, which begs the question with the force of five extended tracks that are guaranteed to blow your mind to the stratosphere. The pieces are loaded with whooshing and glistening synth noises and span from lofi space funk to cinematic soundscapes. The sweetly floating title track is like some of those galactic ballads that rare soul collectors are spending their pensions on. At the other side of the spectrum, album closer ‘What Are You Doing?’ sounds like Sun Ra sat down at a JBs session, and is straight up meant to get that booty moving. Combined with the raw soul prowess of CD&M, Jimi is able to refine new shades from his already impressive repertoire of talent. Even if you are a friend of his previous work you might not have heard him get down quite like this. 

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
1. Is There Love In Outer Space?
2. Gaia Sunset Pt.1
3. Gaia Sunset Pt.2
Side B:
1. Orbiting Telesto
2. Laputa
3. What Are You Doing?

After reissuing Hedzoleh by Hedzoleh in 2022, a collaborative effort by Meakusma and Soundway, this new 12inch features remixes by Jimi Tenor, Mark Ernestus, Gavsborg and Waltraud Blischke, transporting and transfusing Hedzoleh's tracks into new spheres and circumstances. Hedzoleh Soundz were one of the first and most original ‘Afro’ bands from 1970s Ghana, playing an unusual mix of traditional music and western rock as part of the West African Highlife scene. The music for the Hedzoleh album was used by legendary South-African trumpeter Hugh Masekela as the backbone to his afrojazz classic, “Masekela – Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz”. The Hedzoleh Soundz Remixes 12inch features an eloquent, deep, deeply poppy even, dub by Mark Ernestus, Jimi Tenor taking the original Rekpete track into even more joyous territory, adding some subtly hypnagogic touches at the end, Gavsborg transforming Y Yes Baa Gee Wo into a beat-based drone of sorts, a toolin the right hands, and a majestic experimental twist by Waltraud Blischke, sampling one Hedzoleh track and one unreleased solo track by Sascha Todd, son of Hedzoleh bass player and vocalist Stanley Todd.

This record came about with the support of Ostbelgien.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: I mean, it's got Mark Ernestus on it - I was already sold! But the other three tweaks are worthy of investigation. The Jimi Tenor rework had me with its meandering sax lines and jagged beats, whilst Gavsborg's wigged-out wobble sucked me into its languid downbeat whirlpool. Top stuff.

TRACK LISTING

Kaa Ye Oyai Don T Be In A Hurry (Mark Ernestus Remix)
Rekpete - (Jimi Tenor Rework)
Y Yei Baa Gbe Wo (Gavsborg Remix)
Sacha Todd S Simplex Meets Hedzoleh (Waltraud Blischke Remix)

Musical legends from opposite sides of the world come together on Hell Yeah's next EP as Japan's Calm and Finnish musician Jimi Tenor collaborate on big city takes. It features two new singles as well as remixes from the celebrated tapes and Belfast's best-kept secret, The Vendetta Suite.

This most satisfying of eps came together when the psychedelic space-jazz-funk king and noted musician, composer and producer Jimi Tenor was in tour in Japan. Label head Marco arranged for him to head into Calm's studio in Kawasaki, Tokyo, and real magic happened.

'Big city takes' is gloriously lush, with serene chords, delicate flutes and organic percussion. Tenor's airy vocal brings the soul as an intimate and late-night groove emerges to melt your heart.

Then come two remixes from tapes. The first is powered by dusty old-school drum breaks. They're doused in subtle euphoria with a nimble bassline down low, while the second one is stripped right back to a pulsing rhythm and killer phased bass. Spread chords bring sunrise feelings to this most colourful of grooves.

On the flip side, Calm offers a version of 'Time & Space' that is nearly eight minutes of exquisitely blissed-out downtempo. Chords ripple like waves, flutes flutter like birds and the whole thing is filled with the joys of a new spring day. The remix comes from The Vendetta Suite, a label regular and under-the-radar talent who is defining his native Northern Irish scene with his fresh fusion sounds. His version brings a new age ambiance to post-rave Balearic comedown. It's one that douses you in life-affirming synths as drums gently persuade you to sway along.

TRACK LISTING

A1.  Big City Takes (Original Mix)
A2.  Big City Takes (Tapes Remix 1)
A3.  Big City Takes (Tapes Remix 5)
B1.  Time & Space (Calm's Version)
B2.  Time & Space (Vendetta Suite Remix)

Jimi Tenor has always been something of a Renaissance man. On leaving his Finnish homeland for New York in the early 1990s, and later as he travelled through Europe, he quickly discovered what he calls his ikigai, his great joy in life: to record and produce music in DIY mode at home with the most rudimentary of means, spont- aneously and intuitively. In more than 30 years of making music, Tenor has remained true to his ideal, whether as a solo artist on his early electronic albums or in the widely diverse collaborations and constellations which followed (with the likes of Tony Allen, Kabu Kabu, Abdissa Assefa). "Multiversum" is now his third album for Hamburg-based label Bureau B.

Jimi Tenor and Bureau B first teamed up in 2020 on the former's "NY, Hel, Barca" retrospective and continued their association with the release of "Deep Sound Learning", a collection of rarities, in spring 2021.

Whilst Tenor has predominantly released jazz and Afrobeat records over the past two decades, his live performances have often seen him return to his minimalist roots. Enthralled by how Jimi Tenor the solo artist conjured up his space music with just a synthesizer, flute and saxophone, Bureau B ultimately invited him to record an album with this basic and yet astoundingly effective set-up.

Within just a few months, Tenor delivered an impressive selection of new pieces to Bureau B; all recorded in his Helsinki home studio. These tracks are now presented on "Multiversum", a record which provides further proof of Jimi Tenor's versatility. Based on drum machine beats and synthesizer loops, Tenor's music invites the listener to drift into open, limitless expanses - he is a master of the unforeseeable, audibly infusing all twelve new tunes with a sense of joie de vivre and intuition, with no recourse to standards. "Multiversum" is a declaration of love to the DIY spirit, somewhere between bedroom jazz and deviant techno.

As a counterpoint to the album release, "Omniverse" is one of the first books to be published in ‚Bureau B/Tapete Records' joint venture with the Mainz- based publisher Ventil. It is an impressive portrait of the artist, packed with photos and stories documenting Jimi Tenor's life and career in music.

TRACK LISTING

1. Slow Intro
2. Life Hugger
3. Jazznouveau
4. Uncharted Waters
5. Baby Free Spirit
6. Monday Blue
7. Bass Kalimba Dance
8. Birthday Magic
9. Gare De Noir
10. RajuRaju
11. The Way To Kuusijärvi
12. Bad Trip Good

Finnish composer and multi-instrumentalist Jimi Tenor has joined forces with Bureau B to release "NY, Hel, Barca" - a retrospective compilation spanning the years 1994 - 2001. The double LP features early works and selected tracks from his first six albums, long since deleted. The 20 tracks on "NY, Hel, Barca" document key stages of Jimi Tenor's remarkable creative path, underlining the prolific and varied nature of his artistic output. Then as now, he shines like a satellite hovering over the European pop landscape.