Photo of Verneri Pohjola

Verneri Pohjola

Verneri Pohjola Radio

General Info

  • Genre: Experimental / Jazz / Other

    Location Helsinki, Uusimaa, Fi

    Profile Views: 88663

    Last Login: 3/15/2013

    Member Since 9/15/2006

    Record Label ACT

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Despite the fact that he is just about to star in his first solo effort, trumpet player Verneri Pohjola is not a newcomer to the vivid Finnish jazz scene. Released by Texicalli Records in February 2009, “Aurora” is evidence enough that artists who get the necessary time to grow, deliver the best of debut albums. .... The past couple of years have seen Pohjola’s name pop up often just where it should have done. The project’s featuring the skills of the young trumpetist include Ilmiliekki Quartet, one of the internationally most successful Finnish jazz ensembles, the ECM recording Iro Haarla Quintet, “Agatha”, a best-selling album collaboration between Pohjola, Finland’s premier big band UMO, and composer Kerkko Koskinen, to name but a few. Pohjola has also recently toured with his critically acclaimed Miles Davis tribute project featuring the cream of the crop of the young Finnish jazz players, featured in top ranking soul vocalist Tuomo’s live ensemble, and recorded an experimental album with drummer Joonas Riippa for Aeon/Ilma Records. .... Thus, we introduce Verneri Pohjola, the solo artist, with both great pleasure and high expectations. His debut album, “Aurora”, is not put together with an entirely common recipe. That is, the album presents the leader of the session neither with a set combo, nor a solo studio setting so common these days. Instead, the album is a collection of eight pieces, each of which carry with them their own musical narrative. The collective of artists on this albums are each on top of their game, and each composition is met with a different instrumentation conducted by Pohjola to best fit the mood he is after. .... No matter how you look at it, the array of instrumentalists making “Aurora” happen are first rate. The representatives of the strong young voice in Finnish jazz, Aki Rissanen, Antti Lötjönen, Joonas Riippa, Olavi Louhivuori, Ilmari Pohjola, Ville Herrala, and Mika Kallio, are all perhaps not yet household names on the international jazz circuit, but are nevertheless already making big waves nationally in various highly rated ensembles. Juhani Aaltonen, Pepa Päivinen, and the late, also internationally noted jazz great, bassist Pekka Pohjola, represent the history of jazz music in Finland and each bring their strong visions to meet with that of Verneri Pohjola’s. The string section on the album is Meta4, an ensemble noted on their own as one of Europe’s finest. .... The pieces on the album penned by Verneri Pohjola breathe with remarkable ease. The opener, ‘Akvavit’, is an ample example of what is about to follow. Pohjola’s tone is breezy and meditative. He fills the sonic canvas without excessive force, travels with just enough musical hand-luggage at all times, and employs the larger orchestra where necessary. The themes build up slowly and there is space within the diverse compositions. .... The underlying and unifying texture comes courtesy of Pohjola’s uncanny vision to make the most of the compositions and the exquisite wealth of instrumental skill available. .... All in all, “Aurora” is a very ambitious effort for a debut. No wonder, then, that this music is created by a musician who can already boast a CV many a contemporary jazzman would be proud of as such. .... .... Photo: Jori Grönroos ..

  • Members

    Juhani Aaltonen, Pepa Päivinen, Ilmari Pohjola, Aki Rissanen, Pekka Pohjola, Ville Herrala, Antti Lötjönen, Joonas Riippa, Mika Kallio, Olavi Louhivuori, Antti Tikkanen, Minna Pensola, Atte Kilpeläinen, Tomas Djupsjöbacka

  • Influences

    Per Jorgensen, Miles Davis, Tom Harrel, Tom Waits, Radiohead, Anders Jormin, Björk, Tys Tys... .... .... Aurora (ACT 2011, Texicalli Records 2009, TEXCD094) .... .... Photo: Jori Grönroos ...... ..AURORA.. .... Listening to Verneri Pohjola’s trumpet is like sailing in cloudy weather with occasional patches of mist. At times rays of sun burst through the clouds. Playing the trumpet is an arduous endeavor. He braves it; he soars like an eagle, flutters like a butterfly or stings like a bee. .... His expression is thoroughly musical; music comes first, always with an exceptional melodic inventiveness. .... All the compositions are by Verneri; I find them at times rhapsodic, ranging from somber moods to exuberant bursts of joy. Free improvisation contrasted with strictly written passages. Each piece has a story of its own, with ideas for great things to come. .... Otto Donner ...... Track 1: Akvavit .... Mika Kallio and Olavi Louhivuori - drums and percussion,.. Ville Herrala - string bass.. Meta4 string quartet:.. Antti Tikkanen - violin.. Minna Pensola - violin.. Atte Kilpeläinen - viola.. Tomas Djupsjöbacka - cello ...... Track 2: ForThree .... Pepa Päivinen - alto flute and bass clarinet.. Aki Rissanen - piano.. Joonas Riippa - drums and percussion.. Olavi Louhivuori - drums and percussion.. Antti Lötjönen - bass.. Meta4 string quartet ...... Track 3: Askisto .... Meta4 string quartet.. Joonas Riippa - drums, percussion and celesta.. Aki Rissanen - piano.. Antti Lötjönen - bass.. Verneri Pohjola - cassette recorder .... Track 4: Boxer Diesel .... Ilmari Pohjola - trombone.. Aki Rissanen - rhodes and other keys.. Verneri Pohjola - additional keys.. Mika Kallio - drums.. Olavi Louhivuori - percussion.. Pekka Pohjola - electric bass ...... Track 5: Spirit of S .... Juhani Aaltonen - flute.. Aki Rissanen - piano.. Joonas Riippa - drums.. Antti Lötjönen - bass.. Meta4 string quartet ...... Track 6: Colossus .... Juhani Aaltonen - flute.. Aki Rissanen - piano.. Joonas Riippa - drums.. Antti Lötjönen - bass ...... Track 7: Concierto de Aranjuez Amour .... Ville Herrala - bass.. Aki Rissanen - piano.. Everybody - Background noises ...... Track 8: In The End of This Album .... Ilmari Pohjola - trombone.. Verneri Pohjola - cassette recorder, drums, Rhodes, other keys and vocals.. Emilia Sainisalo - additional vocals.. Aki Rissanen - Rhodes and other keys.. Antti Lötjönen - double bass.. Pekka Pohjola - Electric bass.. Meta4 string quartet

  • Sounds Like

    .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Videos

00:00 | 0 plays | Jan 1 0001

You have no videos.

Comments

Post a comment...
10 of 192More

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up