By Wif Stenger, May 2010
With accordion supergroup The Samuraï and his other bands, accordionist Markku Lepistö is heading in the opposite direction – both geographically and musically – from two of his former Värttinä band-mates.
As two singers from world-music mainstay Värttinä compete at the glitzy Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo under the name Kuunkuiskaajat (Moonwhispers) – sporting a glittering white squeezebox – Markku Lepistö has just played his first concerts with accordion supergroup The Samuraï in France. He also performs at the Shanghai World Expo and in Tokyo with bassist Pekka Lehti – another Värttinä alumnus.
Prior to setting off for France and Asia, Lepistö paused at Helsinki's Cable Factory to chat about his current projects – including four groups and doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy.
As we talked, he posed for pictures on the dock behind the cultural centre, where he rehearses with one of his bands, Avanti Trio.
