Wif Stenger

1 week ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Wif Stenger

On her fourth album, Mongolian-born, German-based vocalist Enkhjargal “Enji” Erkhembayar plays it safer compared to her more experimental earlier albums and a live show I caught last summer when she stretched her warm voice toward soaring vocalise, drawing on the Mongolian long-song tradition. Here, the sound is pleasant but more conventional easy-listening vocal jazz, somewhere between Norah Jones and Arooj Aftab.

1 week ago | yle.fi | Wif Stenger

Finland has been named to lead an EU project on the use of quantum technology for defence purposes. This includes quantum computers, which are still under development but could be vastly more powerful and rapid than standard computers. The EU venture, which was proposed by Finland, is dubbed Quantum Enablers for Strategic Advantage (Quest). It was unveiled on Wednesday as part of the latest set of 11 projects under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (Pesco) programme.

3 weeks ago | songlines.co.uk | Wif Stenger

Rating: ★★★ View album and artist details Artist/band: Áššu Label: Nordic Notes June/2025 Joik vocalist Ulla Pirttijärvi is among northern Finland’s strongest Indigenous voices. Pirttijärvi combines her powerful singing with West African influences in her trio, Áššu. The name means ‘Glowing Embers’, and that sense of warmth permeates the group’s second album.

3 weeks ago | theneweuropean.co.uk | Wif Stenger

My first car after moving to Finland was a rustbucket Saab. Patching its leaks was Jouko, a mechanic who lived nearby. He didn’t charge much, but I had to fetch him bottles of fortified raspberry wine by way of payment. Jouko was one of hundreds of thousands of Finns who went to work in neighbouring Sweden’s car and chocolate factories back in the late 1960s and early 70s. He knew a thing or two about cars.

1 month ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Wif Stenger

New York alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin charged right out of the gate with her “warmup tune” Trane – which was even more hair-raising than the version on last year’s Grammy-shortlisted Phoenix Reimagined live album. She’s on a tour named after the live album, and repeated much of it, even beginning her set with the same introduction, word-for-word. Still, this show never felt rote or routine.