February 2012:
- Jonathan's NEW ALBUM available!
Jonathan has released this self-titled 20-song retrospective CD summarizing his past decade as a songwriter. The album is available NOW on CD, and also at the iTunes Music Store.
Jonathan's best songs are represented, including "Smart Girls," "Carol of the Bells," and "Librarian," as well as pristine remixes of "Ashes" and "Workin' My Committee." Brand new songs and alternate versions are also included.
- Big re-design of www.jonathanrundman.com unveiled!
Surf around here at Jonathan's freshly updated webpage to see the renovations. The new banner photos up above are courtesy of photographers Micah Taylor (menu, portraits), David DeYoung of HowWasTheShow.com (acoustic guitar), and Heidi Mae Niska (piano). Thanks also to web-design guru Pat Tomek for the skeletal system. - Press and blogosphere coverage continues!
Jonathan's new solo album AND the Kaivama album reviewed at UCC News.
Kaivama album reviewed at No Depression.
Jonathan interviewed for weekly audio podcast from pop culture site Plain Ketchup.
Audience member blog review from Bainbridge Island concert.
Audience member blog review from Crystal Falls concert. - Jonathan books coast-to-coast shows with KAIVAMA
KAIVAMA is the new Nordic-folk duo featuring Jonathan and fellow Finnish-American musician Sara Pajunen. In February Kaivama will return to the road, for their first tour to the Southern USA. Dates are booked in Alabama and Georgia, and at Finlandia Days in Florida.
In March they'll rejoin composer/instrumentalist Arto Järvelä for a week of concerts across the Midwest, and an anticipated homecoming performance at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis! Tickets available now!
This Spring and Summer will take Kaivama to California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, and beyond.
Band info, tour dates, Facebook links, and album ordering at the Kaivama webpage.
October 2011:
- More press coverage for KAIVAMA
Kaivama has received great reviews and concert previews in a variety of publications this past month! Check out these links: Preview in Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Preview in MplsStPaul Magazine.
Album review in Christian Century.
Album review in Illinois Entertainer.
- New PAPA CROW album features Jonathan
Upper Michigan native songwriter Jeff Krebs has released an amazing new album under his pseudonymn Papa Crow. The CD Things That Roar features 14 songs for children of all ages. Jonathan plays piano on the song "Baby Makes Three."
- Jonathan and Kaivama all over YouTube
Recently posted are a rocking 2001-era full-band concert performance of "Workin' My Committee," and lots of audience videos of Kaivama performing on tour and live on the radio. Subscribe to Jonathan's YouTube Channel, and subscribe to the Kaivama YouTube Channel! - Free MP3: Kaivama and Arto Järvelä live on the radio
Back in June, Jonathan & Sara joined legendary Finnish composer and instrumentalist Arto Järvelä on a Midwest tour. The trio played live on the air on Minneapolis' KFAI radio, where they performed this smokin' version of Arto's tune "Hoppavalssi." CLICK HERE and scroll down to download the MP3.
September 2011:
- Jonathan Rundman and Sara Pajunen release KAIVAMA album: East Coast tour in September!
KAIVAMA is the new Nordic-folk duo featuring Jonathan and fellow Finnish-American musician Sara Pajunen.Touring this Summer in support of their new album, they've performed in Chicago, San Diego, Seattle, Vancouver BC, and across the Upper Midwest.
This month Kaivama will tour the East Coast with dates in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and more!
Band info, tour dates, Facebook links, and album ordering at the Kaivama webpage.
- EDINA MAGAZINE features Kaivama interview
The September issue of Edina Magazine features a detailed interview with Jonathan & Sara. Learn the history of Kaivama, hear about their adventures on the road, and get the behind-the-scenes story on Jonathan's composition "Edina Speedtrap."
- New ECHELON album features Jonathan
Fellow Lutheran rockers and long-time Jonathan collaborators ECHELON have released a career retrospective, Mileage Vol 1 &2. In addition to providing guest vocals, Jonathan also wrote the liner notes for the album!.
- KAIVAMA international TV appearances
The Minnesota-produced Finnish Talk and Variety Show, which airs on a variety of Midwestern cable TV networks, features Kaivama on a recent broadcast. Watch the entire episode HERE on YouTube. Also, on August 12, Kaivama appeared on Finnish TV network MTV3 on their "Good Morning, Finland" program! Show archives are here.
August 2011:
- New KAIVAMA album and national tour!
KAIVAMA is the new Nordic-folk duo featuring Jonathan and fellow Finnish-American musician Sara Pajunen. On June 7th their debut album was released and they embarked on a cross country tour. So far this Summer, KAIVAMA have performed from Chicago to Seattle, Vancouver BC, to Sault Sainte Marie, MI, and all across Minnesota.Band info, tour dates, Facebook links, and album ordering at the Kaivama webpage.
- KAIVAMA television, radio, and media appearances
June and July found Sara & Jonathan playing live on the air on various media outlets across the Midwest USA. View their appearance on KARE 11 television, and check out archived audio of their in studio guest spots on KUMD and KFAI. Also view Kaivama's coverage at HowWasTheShow.com, City Pages, and The Mining Journal. - New KATHRYN SWEZY album features Jonathan
Colorado-based folk-pop songwriter and performer Kathryn Swezy has released her debut solo CD "Little Seasons." Jonathan contributes piano, accordion, drums, and xylophone to the album. Also appearing is Beki Hemingway on harmony vocals.
- Updated videos on YouTube!
View concert videos from this Summer's Kaivama tours, featuring live performances of "Markkina Marssi," "Cross Country," "Chicago Waltz," and more. Subscribe to Jonathan's YouTube Channel, and subscribe to the Kaivama YouTube Channel! - Free MP3: Kaivama in concert playing "Joutsen Polska"
Captured during a live performance this Spring in Redding, CA, this version of the traditional Finnish fiddle tune "Joutsen Polska" is available for free! CLICK HERE and scroll down to download the MP3.
June 2011:
- Debut KAIVAMA album and tunebook available!
Jonathan has teamed up with brilliant violinist Sara Pajunen to form the Finnish-American folk duo KAIVAMA. Their debut CD is now available, featuring inventive and adventurous interpretations of traditional Finnish fiddle tunes, as well as new compositions written or co-written by Jonathan and Sara.
In addition to the album, Kaivama has created a corresponding tunebook featuring sheet music for all the songs from the CD. Melody lines and chords for each song are paired with historical commentary about the music.
Check out the Kaivama webpage to learn about the duo and purchase the CD and tunebook!
- KAIVAMA to tour the Midwest with Arto Järvelä!
World renown composer and master fiddler from Finland, Arto Järvelä, is coming to the USA in June, and Jonathan and Sara will be joining him on tour! Cities include Chicago, Nisswa/Brainerd, Duluth, Cambridge, Decorah, and Minneapolis. Check out the Tour Dates page for complete venue info and links!
- More Radio Airplay!
Jonathan composed the fiddle tune "Edina Speedtrap" for the Kaivama album, and the song was featured on Minneapolis' KBEM 88.5FM radio's "Bluegrass Saturday Morning" program! Thanks as always for the airplay! - KAIVAMA to appear on Minneapolis television in June!
Sara and Jonathan will perform with Arto Järvelä on the live broadcast of KARE 11 television's "Showcase Minnesota" program on Thursday, June 16th! Tune in! - New NATE HOUGE album features Jonathan.
Jonathan contributes Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, and accordion to the pop breakthrough album Reform Follows Function by Twin Cities songwriter Nate Houge. - More new music videos on YouTube!
KAIVAMA performs "Pirun Polska" at 5th St Farms in Berkeley, CA. WATCH IT HERE.
JONATHAN performs a solo-acoustic cover version of "It's Not Too Late," written by T Bone Burnett. WATCH IT HERE.
JONATHAN has released a commissioned version of the old German hymn "Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness." WATCH IT HERE.
Subscribe to Jonathan's YouTube Channel, and subscribe to the Kaivama YouTube Channel! - KAIVAMA's first CD review!
Inside World Music blog turned in a very positive review of Kaivama's debut album. Read it here! - Free MP3: "Second Language (alternate take)"
This month's free MP3 is a very special treat! Check out the previously unreleased alternate studio take of "Second Language," recorded during the Public Library album sessions, featuring beautiful instrumentation from The Silos. Download the MP3 at the Audio Page.
CLICK HERE to read previous news entries.