Constantine & The Call Operators

Constantine & The Call Operators was founded in Helsinki in 2012. After years of hard gigs and composing and working on the song material, the band released their debut album in May 2021. He is accompanied by an elite of Scandinavian blues and soul musicians in The Call Operators. Keyboardist Harri Taittonen is a long-time musician with numerous recordings and tours in various top artists. Drummer Tyko Haapala has performed for a long time called 'Downhome King III', collaborated with Jo 'Buddy and toured with e.g. With Louisiana Red, Gene Taylor and Diz Watson. Jaska Prepula, who is responsible for the bass parts of the album, is a bass veteran who is known e.g. from tour bands by numerous American blues and soul artists such as Tad Robinson, Terry Hanck and James Harman. The horn section on the album, Torbjörn Eliasson (tenor and baritone saxophone) and Calle Stenman (trumpet), are known from the Stockholm ska and r & b band The Beat From Palookaville. The band was previously stylistically in the 40s and 50s with blues and rhythm & amp; in the world of blues. With his debut album, the style has developed in the direction of the soul blues of the 60's, where he has been influenced by e.g. Bobby Bland, James Carr, Isaac Hayes and The Miracles. Stax and Motown style horn fittings, a warmly roaring Hammond sound, a tightly swinging rhythm section, and soulful vocals were recorded on old tape microphones directly to a two-inch reel in a 100% analog studio, and mixed at California's renowned Greaseland studio. After working on it for several years, Constantine & the Call Operators debuted with a self-titled album somewhere in the Helsinki area after a successful crowdfunding last summer. Konstantine Kovalev, the name does not immediately suggest, is the frontman of a Finnish trio, which also consists of Harri Taittonen and Tyko Haapala. Constantine & The Call Operators started their musical journey in 2012 and after nine years playing on dozens of stages, writing and refining their songs, the band finally released their debut album. Konstantin Kovalev is the guitarist, singer and songwriter, Harri Taittonen the keyboardist (organ, piano) and Tyko Haapala the drummer of the band. Haapala was part of Down home King III, collaborated with Jo' Buddy and toured with artists such as Louisiana Red, Lazy Lester, Gene Taylor & Diz Watson. Blues & soul veteran Jaska Prepula, who plays bass on the album, is known for many American artists (Tad Robinson, Terry Hanck, James Harman) and many other touring bands in Europe. The horn section (Torbjörn Eliasson: tenor & baritone sax & Calle Stenman : trumpet) comes from Stockholm, Sweden. They are known for their work in the Swedish r&b and ska band, The Beat from Paookaville. Over the years, Constantine & the Call Operators has explored the world of Blues and R&B from the 40s / 50s and eventually found herself in the soul and blues of the 60s, influenced by Bobby Bland, James Carr and others. , Isaac Hayes and The Miracles just to name a few. Their Stax and Motown-inspired horn arrangements, intense Hammond sound, driving rhythm section and soulful vocals were captured for their debut with ribbon microphones and directly on 2-inch tape in a 100% analog studio (Supravox, Karkkila) owned by Tomi Leino. The album was mixed and mastered at Greaseland Studios, San Jose, CA by its owner, Kid Andersen. "Blind Man in a Blaze", the opener and the relaxed "Joker in the Park" make their sound immediately clear. The catchy swinging "Gone" is clearly inspired by The Rivingtons and Booker T & the MGs and the soulful next original "Losing Game" should not be confused with the Amy Winehouse song of the same name. To find out for yourself what it is about, there is "Mr. Murphy's Law", "Waiting for a Ride" shows that Finns also rock and to show that Constantine & the Call Operators are essentially all about soul, there is "You're So Lonely" and the great closing, " Please Believe Me". "With a self-titled album, strongly inspired by Stax and Motown, these Finns made a great debut. Constantine & the Call Operators is a band of which we will definitely hear more !"

1 Blind Man In A Maze 3:22 

2 Joker In The Pack 2:59 

3 Gone 4:25 

4 Losing Game 6:04 

5 Mr. Murphy's Law 5:12 

6 Waiting For A Ride 3:47 

7 You're So Lonely 3:49 

8 Starchild Blues 3:35 

9 Please Believe Me 3:29 

Konstantine Kovalev - vocals, guitar 

Harri Taittonen - organ, piano 

Tyko Haapala - drums

 Jaska Prepula - bass 

Torbjörn Eliasson - tenor & baritone sax 

 Calle Stenman - trumpet 

Recorded in a 100% analog studio (Supravox, Karkkila) owned by Tomi Leino. Mixed and mastered at Greaseland Studios, San Jose, CA by its owner, Kid Andersen.