PRE-ORDER ITEM Expected in stock between 3rd – 17th February PLEASE ORDER PRE-ORDER ITEMS SEPARATELY FROM IN STOCK ITEMS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO AVOID DELAYS TO YOUR ORDER/S Composer Valtteri Laurell Pyhnen presents his Nonet formation on We Jazz Records. Their debut album Tigers Are Better Looking is released 3 Feb and the ensemble features internationally renowned Finnish clarinetist Antti Sarpila, plus a strong cast of Helsinki-based musicians from several of the top Finnish groups. Based on the writings of British-Caribbean author Jean Rhys (18901979), the 6-track album is a melancholy, intimate chamber jazz creation. Laurell\’s music swings, yet he doesn\’t stop there, but moves further to paint an original, richly-toned sonic image with the highly potent Nonet. Laurell states Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis\’s \”Water Babies\” and Charles Mingus among the key musical influences of his compositions on this album. Through Rhys\’s text, Laurell finds a special sense of detachment and melancholy evident in his new material. Antti Sarpila\’s masterful clarinet provides the icing on the cake, floating high above the clouds of sound.