In #Helsinki the weather is finally starting to resemble summer and the weekly Sörkan Ruusu jazz jam session is outside on the street. Guitarist Olli Soikkeli is here from New York giving the usual houseband a boost.

Some fresh free & spiritual leaning bangers from RR Gems came in the mail today

At Pori for Pori Jazz Festival . Helmi Antila Quartet at the free stage now, Jimi Tenor here later, Hot Heros a short walk away and then the daily jam session across the street.

New Finnish free jazz band Kalvolan ylänkö making their public debut in duo form tonight at Odysseus 2025 festival. Sami Pekkola and Staffan Södergård will also play the festival tomorrow as part of Oiro Pena.

Welcome back Cecil Taylor

Why did I have no recollection that Manu Katche plays drums on Toru Amos' Boys for Pele?

We had some popular characters in Helsinki today with both Kamasi Washington and Jacob Collier playing in town. Went to see Kamasi.

Saturday record store haul - Jazzman Spiritual Jazzy 16, classic Barre Phillips on ECM, Adams/Pullen and Cannonball and Nat Adderley

Päivän levyostos/record store haul: Hawkwind - Space Ritual

Out today - reissue of seminal Ricky-Tick Records release Five Corners Quintet - Chasin' the Jazz Gone By, featuring home town landmark Tapiolan keskustorni on the cover.

Today's mailbox - latest The Sorcerers and t-shirt from ATA Records.

Tuesday means it's jazz jam session time in Helsinki at Sörkan ruusu. Today's houseband features usual suspects Tuomo Uusitalo and Juuso Rinta with Joe Peri on drums this week.

In London for a few days. Record shopping in SoHo today.

"He's so unhip, that when you say Dylan, he thinks you're talking about Dylan Thomas. Whoever he was." Scored this from Honest Jon's today on my London trip, worth getting in your collection if only just for the stunning track Starless and Bible Black.