Josefiina Vannesluoma, vocals, composition
Mikael Myrskog, piano
The Mortal Lease is an eight-part suite that Josefiina Vannesluoma composed to Edith Wharton’s (1862-1937) sonnets. Written in 1908, the poems tell a story of a smoldering summer affair, awakening to passion and to artistic enlightenment.
The original ensemble consists of young Finnish jazz frontline: Mikael Myrskog on piano, Nathan Francis on double bass, Ville Luukkonen on drums and Sampo Kasurinen in alto flute and tenor saxophone. The suite was nominated for best jazz album of the year at Finnish Emma Awards.
The Runokuu performance of The Mortal Lease will be conducted as a duo, with Vannesluoma’s eerie vocals and Myrskog on piano.