Nordic Noir, New York Grooves: Kaisa Mäensivu’s Bass-Driven Vision on “Moving Parts”
Jazz began as an American art form, but its spread worldwide has created a unique melting pot of music. One new example is the album Moving Parts by Kaisa’s Machine, a quintet led by Finnish bassist and composer Kaisa Mäensivu. The group’s third album grew from her exploring the differences between Helsinki and New York City regarding what it means to belong.
“I was thinking often about things that bring meaning to life, the feeling of belonging somewhere, and whether it’s important or not to have that,” she says.
Musically, the result was a sound Mäensivu describes as “Nordic noir meets New York sparkle.” Some songs, like “Midnight Sun,” exemplify more of the Nordic sound, while the opening track, “Tykytys,” is more of an introduction to the band as a whole.
“I think it essentially captures what Kaisa’s Machine is about,” Mäensivu says. “High energy, improvisation, moving harmonies, and tight grooves that make you wanna dance, but you’re not quite sure how.”
Check out this fun video for “Origin Story,” which features saxophonist Melissa Aldana:
Moving Parts is out now digitally (Apple Music and Amazon Music), with a CD version coming at the end of the month.
Moving Parts Track List:
- Tykytys
- Midnight Sun
- Origin Story (feat. Melissa Aldana)
- Moon Waves
- Who’s Asking?
- Satama (Harbor) (feat. Maja Mannila)
- Best Kept Secrets
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
