Esa Onttonen Labra

Esa Onttonen Labra is a band formed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in late 2020. The music played by the group is based on my concept of collaborative live composition and an application that I have designed and developed, allowing musicians to communicate musical information in real-time. Although there are few precursors to shaping improvised music in real-time – for example, conduction of Butch Morris, John Zorn’s game pieces (e.g. “Cobra”) or some contemporary digital projects – Labra explores a unique way of making music which blurs the boundaries between improvisation and composition.

In addition to myself on electric guitar and bass, the personnel of the group consists of various musicians who have worked in the “lab” such as Antti Kujanpää on Hammond organ, Mikael Myrskog and Aki Rissanen on keyboards, Joonas Riippa on drums and Jarmo Saari on guitar. The formation and size of the group varies depending on the situation.

The debut album of Esa Onttonen Labra is released digitally and as a limited edition vinyl LP in June 2025 on Fiasko Records (FRLP-149). The album contains four tracks, “Consequences,” “They Are Here,” “For All Of Us,” and “To Be Felt”. The band is not committed to any particular style, but the instrumentation hints at electric jazz and the influence of artists such as Miles Davis, Weather Report and Tony Williams Lifetime may be heard in the music, as well as the myriad other sounds the musicians bring to the table.

The first stage of the concept and software development and the launch of the group was funded by Kone Foundation in 2020. Taike (Arts Promotion Centre Finland) has provided grants for the production of the debut album in 2023 and our artistic activities in 2025–2026. I’m grateful to Kone Foundation for making it possible to bring my idea to life and Taike for making it possible to continue the artistic work. In addition, my post as doctoral researcher in the University of the Arts Helsinki in 2022–2025 has enabled me to investigate the topic in depth not possible otherwise.

The image features the first incarnation of the group with (from left to right) Antti Kujanpää, Esa Onttonen, Joonas Riippa and Aki Rissanen.

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