Verneri Pohjola

Verneri Pohjola stands among Finland’s foremost and most active jazz figures, a standing rooted in lineage since he is the son of Pekka Pohjola, one of the nation’s most daring bassists who emerged during the 1970s prog-rock period. Born in Helsinki, he absorbed film scores and rock music while dabbling in numerous instruments until a school orchestra experience anchored him primarily on trumpet. Jazz entered his world through his brother and quickly became his central focus, although he continues to play piano and drums simply to avoid monotony. Five ensembles occupy his schedule—Quintessence, the Don Johnson Big Band, Silvio, Q-Continuum, and the Ilmielikki Quartet, the last of which he leads. Formed in 2002, the Ilmielikki Quartet issued its debut album, March of the Alpha Males, earning a 2003 Emma nomination for Best Jazz Album. In 2004 the Pori Jazz Festival named him Young Artist, and Finnish jazz critics voted him Musician of the Year as well as Best Trumpet Player. The quartet later released a follow-up, Take It with Me. With Silvio he recorded Amass All You Can and the EP Silvio; Quintessence produced Talk Less Listen More and 5 AM. He also issued the solo album Agatha.