Aki Rissanen’s trio returns to the stage with their new album Imaginary Mountains.
Finnish pianist and composer Aki Rissanen returns with a bold new album, Imaginary Mountains, a Nordic jazz statement rooted in rhythmic intensity, sonic exploration, and emotional depth. Known for his acclaimed work with the Aki Rissanen Trio on albums such as Amorandom and Art in Motion, Rissanen continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of form, space, and expression.
“At the heart of this album is trust. In our trio – Teppo and Antti. We’ve been playing together for a long time, and without them this music wouldn’t be what it is,” Rissanen says.
The album title Imaginary Mountains refers to the invisible and often unconscious internal barriers that affect how we react to world events – and sometimes numb us to them altogether. It is about the mental terrain that can prevent us from responding or identifying with what is happening around us.
Aki Rissanen is one of the most internationally followed Finnish jazz musicians. His breakthrough came in spring 2016 with the release of Amorandom on Edition Records. The album won the Emma Award in the Jazz Album of the Year category and was widely praised both in Finland and abroad. The trio albums Another North (2017), Art In Motion (2019) and Trio Live (2022), as well as the solo album Divided Horizon (2021) and the Hyperreal album (2023) have established him at the forefront of European jazz.