Episode 3 | Nathan Riki Thomson, Tommie Black Roff
‘’Global club nights’’ is a networking and informative club series in collaboration with Caisa Cultural centre, Helsinki Open Waves web radio, and the Global Music Department of Sibelius Academy that aims to bring together all parties involved with music. With live music, seminars, and workshops, the events attempt to create bridges between musicians, event producers, agents, venues, and music lovers, bringing down barriers and creating a safe and creative environment of free expression. In a celebration of diversity, using the tools of intercultural collaboration and specialized knowledge, we provide the possibility of a neutral and safe space for sharing and exchange of knowledge, information, wishes, and insights on the music industry in Finland, both on the part of the musician and from the business side, while most importantly, sharing it with the community.
In this episode, we are very honoured to host two more incredible human beings and artists of life:
Nathan Riki Thomson is a double bass player, multi-instrumentalist, composer, researcher, and educator. Intertwined with performing, teaching, and researching, Nathan has actively worked on intercultural community engagement projects in contexts such as schools, prisons, youth groups, centres for children with a disability, and with homeless youth in Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, and North and South America. Finland is his new home, where he is.
As a performer, Nathan has toured internationally during the past 26 years with groups including the Antonio Forcione Quartet, Adriano Adewale Group, Ilkka Heinonen Trio, Subsonic Trio, Electronic Chamber Music, and Mari Kalkun and Runorun. Nathan is featured on numerous albums as a collaborator and has released three albums under his own name, including Under Ubi’s Tree (NAIM Records UK), Shaped by the Sea, and Resonance (Sibarecords / NAXOS). He was a lecturer at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London for 10 years, where he worked as a core member of the teaching team for the master’s degree in leadership.
Tommie Black-Roff is an accordionist, pianist, singer, and composer. Black-Roff grew up in the southwest tip of Cornwall, absorbing local folk traditions. In the UK, he is especially known for the band TEYR and the trio’s album ‘Far From The Tree’, as well as the release of the ‘Estren’ album earlier this year. Black-Roff has lived in Helsinki since 2018. He studied at the Sibelius Academy and also plays in the Nordic band Farandi.
Tommie also represents the music group Värivarjo. Their name, which translates as “Colour-Shadow,” is named after the large and colourful rainbow sheets commonly used in group kid games. That feeling of wonder and sensory saturation is the goal. They bridge the divide between jazz and folk backgrounds through collaborative composition and improvisation. Värivarjo is a musical laboratory in which they test ideas, games and creative tool – the outcome isn’t always known from the outset, but the journey is what counts.
In the autumn of 2022 Värivarjo will record their debut album, out for release autumn 2023. Come preview their latest material.
Credits
Producers & Hosts: Chico Matada & Vasileios Katopodis
Guests: Nathan Riki Thomson & Tommie Black Roff
Sound recording, editing & live streaming: Bailey Polkinghorne
*The audio piece was recorded and edited at the Helsinki Open Waves performance & recording room located at Caisa.
**The views expressed in this audio piece and texts are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the view of Helsinki Open Waves.
***If you have any feedback regarding the content of the podcast, please contact us via helsinkiopenwaves@gmail.com