Kella tiksumist...

The kannel(zither or psaltery in English)is one of the oldest and most prominent Estonian folk instruments which is also known in the other Baltic countries, in Finland and elsewhere. Combining the kannel with the guitar is something that has not been done very often, if ever.

Eesti Keeled (can be translated as Estonian strings or Estonian tongues) was formed in 1999 by two folk kannel players Tuule Kann and Pille Karras and two jazz guitar players Ain Agan and Jaak Sooäär. The idea was to start a kind of string quartet where pairs of opposites – jazz and folk, international and local, fixed compositions and oral traditions – meet on equal terms. The first performances at Estonian festivals were successful and at the end of the year the quartet recorded their first album “Holy Lake” which was released the following spring.
Since 2001 Eesti Keeled is in close co-operation with singer-guitarists Riho Sibul and Jaak Johanson. In spring 2002 they released an album together called “Sabaga täht” which got very positive reviews in Estonian media and later was given the prize of Estonian Etno/Folk Artist in 2003. Their second album “Kella tiksumist…” was released in 2004 by AVA Muusika and received also the prize of Estonian Etno/Folk Artist in 2005.