Even the most unexpected material can be transformed into jazz. Take the new CD by Milwaukee expatriate Juli Wood. On Dark Forest, the tenor saxophonist molds and shapes traditional Finnish folk songs into music reminiscent of a 1950s cool-jazz session. With her weaving, finely nuanced solos and the intricate low-key rhythms of her accompanists, the minor key melodies sometimes suggest what Stan Getz might have done—had he traveled to the far north for inspiration rather than the beaches of Rio.
Juli Wood will perform 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 at Blu (on top of the Pfister Hotel). Performing with her will be Mark Davis (piano), Jeff Hamann (bass) and Mike Schlick (drums).
