At the Lutheran Church Friday night, Finland’s Sun Trio seemed caught between the past and future of jazz. When trumpeter Jorma Kalevi Louhivuori played his instrument traditionally he had exceptional range, from melodic to abstract, and from gorgeous to guttural. Simply put, the man had incredible chops. But, about half the time, he insisted on adding electronics to the mix, using pedals to distort and loop and another devise to harmonize. Sometimes he’d put the trumpet to his side but it was still playing.

The best moment of the concert came on a ballad when Louhivuori, and his superb bassist (Antti Lötjönen) and drummer (Olavi Louhivuori), gradually worked their way into such an other-worldly sound that it left the reality of the trumpet, bass, and drums behind. Ironically they didn’t need any of the electronics to work that magic.

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Jazz Fest 2014: Sun Trio

Sun Trio played at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Friday, June 20 as part of the 2014 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. PHOTOS BY MARK CHAMBERLIN

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