Jantso Jokelin – Spark of Luck
Independent
No website Available
11 Tracks – 37 minutes
Jantso Jokelin is a multi-instrumentalist from Helsinki, Finland with his major instrument being the harmonica. He cites that as a youth, he flopped back and forth listening to blues and hip-hop, altering between Muddy Waters and Wu-Tang Clan. He played various instruments but fell in love with the harp. He has studied the aspects of playing the harp across many genres including Middle Eastern music, klezmer, beatboxing, jazz and blues. He has studied the techniques of many harmonica players citing Sonny Terry as his first idol, Jason Ricci as a current star, but says Hugo Diaz, an Argentinian tango artist is his number one chromatic player. He took third place at the 2009 World Harmonica Contest in Germany. He is a published author and journalist with works including the first extensive book about the harmonica written in Finnish.
This is his first full-length solo album but has recorded with other Finnish groups previously. Five of the songs are from a 2023 EP, Silver Lining. All songs are originals written by him and he plays resonator and acoustic guitar, percussion and harmonica. Jantso says he drew inspiration for the album from Skip James and Charley Patton and from contemporary artists Charlie Parr, Doug Macleod, and Kelly Joe Phelps with hints of other cultures.
“Last Night” opens the album with a captivating Delta blues song featuring his acoustic guitar and moves into a haunting harp as he sings, “your eyes were shining so bright, they were looking for a new light”. Ville Salonen guests on banjo on the aptly titled “Old Banjo Roll” as he talks about a tavern that has changed and he missed the old music that was played there. “Shoestrings (On A Shoestring Budget)” is a folksy song addressing the life of an artist noting that “all of my friends are either on welfare or doing well” with his harmonica slipping along easily.
“Gambler’s Blues” has the sound of a song recorded in the 1930’s with crisp guitar work as he advises that “money is gone, but I still have more to lose”. “Chickadee Stomp” is a bouncy country blues styled instrumental. He says, “If you see me coming “Leave Your Footprints” on the ground.” The song starts quietly and builds to a run on his harmonica. Ville Rauhala adds double bass on “Don’t Go There” as Jantso exclaims “If I ever go back there, I might lose my shit, and I’m going to tell you this time it won’t be a hissy fit”. “I never figured out what love is, but it sure ain’t that.”
“Only The Night” offers a very bluesy poetic painting of a dream-like atmospheric picture. On “Paper Clip Blues” he cites after a night of travel, “the morning light is breaking and the sun shining down like gold, yet I feel like a suitcase on a midnight roll.” Rauhala joins again on double bass on “Picaresque” with Jantso’s guitar providing a laidback, somewhat Caribbean influence on another instrumental. The album closes with “Taxi to a Housefire” which tells the story of a freelance journalist’s work to get a story with hopes that “they pay me well to be here…one day I will get a full-time deal”.
Jantso’s vocals are pleasant, his lyrics frequently pieces of folksy literature, and his instrumental work on both harmonica and guitar are excellent. The album should appeal to those who enjoy an old-style blues with a touch of folk.
