Entitled Bullhorn, the upcoming release comes out on the acclaimed British label Edition Records. Verneri Pohjola Quartet will play live in Tampere, Turku and Helsinki in February and March.
Verneri Pohjola, one of the brightest stars of Finnish contemporary jazz, releases his third solo album on 19 February. Bullhorn is already hailed by many as the recording that will fix him in the international constellations of jazz. Behind the release we find the British label Edition Records that has in recent years brought out the releases of two other Finnish groups and artists: Oddarrang and pianist Alexi Tuomarila. Pohjola’s previous album Ancient History, released on the German label ACT in 2012, stirred wide interest in the international circles, but on Bullhorn he leaves the shoes of a rising star, emerging now as a mature artist with immense creative potential both as a composer and musician. Pohjola will present the new album and his regenerated quartet in three album-launching shows in Tampere, Turku and Helsinki this February and March.
Pohjola’s musical vision is realised by three confreres from the top of Finnish jazz. Pianist Aki Rissanen, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen are the right crew to do justice to Pohjola’s brooding compositions. Bullhorn captures the joyfully spontaneous give-and-take between the group members, giving yet a deeper level to the release itself. “The compositions approach elegiac, fragile soundscapes and lyricality, which I love, but there are also some rough edges and lofty moments on the album – basically everything that I want to express by my music”, Pohjola says.
Verneri Pohjola (36) is unarguably one of the most gifted and exciting artist in the field of contemporary European jazz. In addition to Verneri Pohjola Quartet, the audience remembers his lyrical, frail and serene playing and composing from such groups as Ilmiliekki Quartet, Suhkan Uhka and Antti Lötjönen Quartet East. He has won multiple awards both as a solo artist (the Pori Jazz Young Artist of the Year in 2004) and with his groups (Teosto award 2004 with Ilmiliekki Quartet). His Emma-awarded solo album Aurora was hailed with enthusiasm by both European and American critics alike, and the sophomore, Ancient History, gained him a place among the crème de la crème of European jazzers. On his second ACT release he presented his new quartet, specifically assembled for recording purposes, and apart from drummer Teppo Mäkynen the same crew appears on Bullhorn.
VERNERI POHJOLA QUARTET
Verneri Pohjola, trumpet / Aki Rissanen, piano / Antti Lötjönen, bass / Teppo Mäkynen, drums
Verneri Pohjola: Bullhorn
Edition Records / EDN1056 (date of release in Finland 19 Feb 2015)
1. Another Day / 2. Girls of Costa Rica / 3. He sleeps, I Keep Watch / 4. Bullhorn / 5. In La Borie / 6. This One Is For You / 7. Nanomachines / 8. Ouroboros / 9. Cold Blooded / 10. The End Is Nigh
VERNERI POHJOLA QUARTET LIVE
Fri 6 Feb Tampere, TTT-klubi (Hallituskatu 19) at 10:00PM, tickets 15/12 €
Fri 6 Mar Turku, Flame Jazz / Café Tiljan (Eerikinkatu 13) at 9:00PM, tickets 15/10 €
Sun 22 Mar Helsinki, National Theatre / Main Stage (Läntinen teatterikuja) at 6:00PM, tickets 25/15 €
Verneri Pohjola performing "Bullhorn" live at The Forge in London in October 2014.