Who IS This Raoul Bjorkenheim Anyway?

A few years ago I came across an article, I can't remember where, titled, "The Finns Are Coming!". The by-line photo showed a bearded, long rasta-ish haired man with a manic expression that looked to be taken from a live performance. My first thought was, "Yikes! What a lunatic." immediately followed with, "Who IS this guy?". This guy is Finnish guitarist Raoul Bjorkenheim at the time fronting a band called Krakatau. The article talked about other artists and the lion's share went to this guy. Based on the description of the music I took a chance and bought the Krakatau album, "Ritual". All of the music is composed by Bjorkenheim for an ensemble consisting of himself on guitars/talking drums/percussion, 2 sax players, bass and drums. I was enthralled from the get-go. The opener, "Foot Talk" is a tongue and cheek send-up on certain world music cumbia ethno-rhythm pixie dust tunes. The non-joke is the composition and playing are top notch. Truly unique. I've been a fan ever since. Bjorkenheim is one of the most innovative and expressive guitarists I've heard. I put him at the head of a class that includes Terje Rypdal, Jimi Sumen who also cut his teeth in Edward Vesala's group, Derek Bailey, James Blood Ulmer, Sonny Sharrock, Even Hette Hermansen of bushman's revenge, and David Torn. I knew I had struck gold when one day traveling in the car put on the album, "Apocalypso", and halfway through the first tune "Oracle" my wife burst out laughing and pushed the eject button. I make no apologies! I love his work in the trio format and we are fortunate that 2 trios are documented. The first is Scorch Trio with Ingebrigt Haker Flaten on bass/electronics and Paal Nilssen-love on drums/percussion. I played the opener from their 2nd album, "Brolt!" for my bassist friend/collaborator Tristram who said, "Wow, this is pretty aggressive". And that before Bjorkenheim enters the fray! Once he jumps in everyone has to hang in there because his vocabulary is so large, his improvisations become streams of consciousness journeys which build into spontaneous compositions, and just when you think this is a bunch of nonsense he leads the band into an actual composition. The 2nd trio features Bill Laswell on bass and the incredible Morgan Agren on drums who's worked with the band Zappa's Universe. The focus here is on intricate compositions. Drummer Agren's "Phasers On Stun" attack gets right out there with Bjorkenheim, the healthy competition in the service of the music just fires me up, and Bill Laswell lays down the law holding everything together with a huge bottom end. Blam! Bjorkenheim also exploits the ring modulator better than anyone who's used this tricky effect, especially when combining with his excellent fret harmonics technique. Jaco Pastorious may have coined "Trio Of Doom" for the trio with John McLaughlin and Tony Williams, yes their 20+ minute set from Havana in '79 is classic stuff from the progenitors of jazz fusion and we thank them for their service, but these 3 guys truly are the Trio Of Doom. I will pay to see this if they come around. I hope Raoul Bjorkenheim one day receives the attention he so richly deserves. For me, he is the best guitarist/composer most folks haven't heard. Keep on doing what you're doing Raoul!