Josephine's Jam was composed in 2009 for the young English bassist, Josephine Jobbins, who had enjoyed playing Teppo Hauta-aho's pieces for young players. The melodic material is based on the letters of Josephine's name, typical of this unqiue Finnish composer, and is a work of great invention and character.

Aimed at the good intermediate bassist, there are jazz and contemporary influences, allied to effective musical and technical challenges, to make this appealing for both concert and educational study. It will work well as a study or recital work, and its jazz and rhythmic influences will get the toes tapping! Much to enjoy and explore....

"Composed in 2010 for a young English bassist named Josephine Jobbins, Josephine's Jam is an enjoyable and light-hearted piece from Teppo Hauta-aho. As a composer, Hauta-aho has created a repertoire of more than 300 works for the double bass in both classical and jazz idioms. This particular work will interest a fan of both kinds of music. The piece opens with a bluesy bowed melody that slinks and purrs around the instrument's lower E's and B's. In both the opening section and throughout the piece, the register remains accessible for intermediate level bassists, often taking advantage of open strings and risking no higher than G harmonic. Following a short cadenza, a faster pizzicato sections marked 'jazzy' takes hold and walks on to the end of the piece.

This music is sure to be fun for bassists new to multi-modal playing. Hauta-aho introduces extended techniques in an approachable way. Although the performer is asked to glissando between notes, tap on the instrument, and pizz with the left hand, the music lies logically on the fingerboard and in comfortable positions. Snapping with the right hand on beats two and four recurs repeatedly throughout the piece, allowing the performer to maintain a constant rhythmic groove and allow for interaction with the audience. Sustained open strings keep resonance alive during these snapped interludes. Not only will Josephine's Jam be rewarding for an advancing bassist looking for a new type of challenge, audiences will enjoy going along for the ride." [Philip Alejo / ISB Bass World]