Sväng

Jouko Kyhälä, an instructor in the folk music department at the Sibelius Academy, assembled the harmonica quartet Sväng together with a pair of his pupils, Eero Turkka and Eero Grundström, along with Pasi Leino, who had previously played in the Finnish harmonica ensemble Raimo Sirkiä. The group interprets Finnish folk traditions alongside melodies drawn from Scandinavian and Balkan sources. Turkka supplies much of the material, crafting it within the relevant stylistic framework, yet their modern interpretive approach has broadened their appeal significantly. Grundström contributes compositions as well and performs on keyboards. In concert, Sväng explores an array of dynamic expressions that build upon their folk foundations by incorporating tango, ragtime, and early jazz. The members collectively employ an assortment of small and large chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, along with harmonetta and bass models. The quartet has toured with acclaim across Europe, in addition to performances in Japan and the USA.