The thirty six year-old trumpeter and composer from Helsinki, Finland has been in the international spotlight for the past few years, and is acknowledged as a jazz star in the making. Having released his two previous albums on the German ACT label to huge critical acclaim, including a five star review from The Guardian, he’s now set to fulfill his enormous creative potential.
Son of the virtuoso bass guitarist Pekka Pohjola, Verneri first came to prominence as leader of Ilmiliekki Quartet, a band that won numerous accolades including the prestigious Teosto Award for original composition. Pohjola soon emerged as a rising star on the Finnish scene, picking up the coveted gong for Musician of the Year at the 2004 Pori Jazz Festival.
As is the case with many great horn players, Pohjola has a distinctive tone, which has a deeply affecting purity and lyricism. His highly melodic improvising is matched by personal compositions marked by memorable and imaginative themes that steer clear of any hackneyed notion of ‘Nordic jazz.’A truly progressive artist with a firm grip on popular culture, Verneri Pohjola is ready to confirm that he is one of the most exciting and original artists of his generation.
Verneri Pohjola’s album ‘Bullhorn’ featuring pianist Aki Rissanen, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen is released in early 2015.
