JUKKA GUSTAVSON & STREET LEVEL: NATURAL HIGH

Jukka keep on going! 2020 was quiet year to him as I think it was many musicians, but this year came again new album! Organ-bass-drums -trio "Street Level" started already in 2017, but this is their first album. They put this band together just for making few gigs, but their co-operation worked so fine that they decided to continue. Jukka has played with this two guys in other bands, for example in British Standard and Strandberg Project. Drummer Thomas Tornroos played also in Jukkas last "Prognosis"-album. Have to say about bassplayer Jan-Olof Strandberg, that he has a long professional musician career and played with really famous Finnish musicians as Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki & Pepe Alhqvist.

"Downtown Jungle" starts album in a very funky way! This is just how funk should always be, really dirty! But in the middle piece goes also towards fusion in Jukkas synths and Jan-Olof bass playing. "First Love" is both musically & lyrically very beautiful & gentle song in its middle tempo. "Oaktree Park Four" has again very funky feeling, but also very proggish, great hammondwork from Jukka. Strandbergs composition "Attention" changes album mood into very jazzy. In the middle this piece changes into 7/8 rhythm, but in the end it changes into blues rhythm and goes back to jazz. Again really great playing from the whole band!

"Hectic Tact" is short, very traditional fifties sounding jazz piece where Jukka plays piano and I think there is also double bass. "Foolish Kids" is Stevie Wonder influenced, middle tempo song. Jukka plays great solo in Hammond and Strandberg in bass. "Lilac Time ? a Romantic Walk In the Old Town" is very mellow, small-tempo jazz piece. Glorius solos again from both Jukka & Jan-Olof! "In the Movement" continues album in a jazzy way including also very typical, magnificent organ chords & playing from Jukka. "Its Jimmy" is a little bit boring piece with its very standard jazz structure. I believe its tribute to Jimmy Smith, who is one of Jukkas idols. "Jig-Saw Puzzle Street" is again instrumental piece, that reminds a lot Stevie Wonder. Piece ends this very good feeling album very well!

When thinking compositions in this album, I dont think this is as strong album as former "Prognosis". In this album there is very little prog, mostly its jazz album with some funk and typical Jukka composition style. But this bands playing again is so strong, that I have to give this four stars. Its very sad when quality of Jukkas album keep on staying high, he just doesnt get much attention to his music even in Finland. Somebody said to me the reason is because he is Jehovahs Witness. If its so, I think its stupid reason, because Jukkas religion has show very little, if any in his music or even lyrics. Mostly Jukka just like to sing about social unequality of the world. And also about love. But anyway I hope again this review will reach somebody and he starts to listen this great musician!