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Mika Pohjola

Mika Pohjola is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City. He is one of the most prolific Scandinavian jazz musicians in his generation. Childhood in Helsinki, Finland 1971-87 Mika Pohjola was born in Helsinki, Finland, and grew up in the neighboring city of Vantaa. He received his formal education in a Steiner school, where his first instrument was violin. He then studied drums, and in 1979 piano and basic music theory with his father, Heikki Pohjola, who is a notable Finnish jazz guitarist. In 1982, young Pohjola entered the Helsinki cathedral boy choir, Cantores Minores under the direction of Heinz Hofmann. At the age of ten, Pohjola had started studies in classical piano, music theory and counterpoint at the Vantaa Conservatory, while also starting to play jazz. His early classical influences were Claude Debussy, Edvard Grieg and Johann Sebastian Bach, and Finnish prominent composers, such as Selim Palmgren, Oskar Merikanto and Aarre Merikanto. Pohjola was introduced to the music of Art Tatum, Charlie Parker and Oscar Peterson by his father, who played his large record collection at home. Pohjola performed music by Mozart, Beethoven and Debussy at regional recitals and received a shared second prize in the classical piano competition of Vantaa in 1987, and represented his city and conservatory at the Ilmari Hannikainen Piano Competition. Studies in Stockholm, Sweden 1987-92 In the Fall 1987, Pohjola moved to Stockholm, Sweden to study jazz and classical music at the Södra Latin Music Gymnasium. It was in Stockholm where he met his mentor and long-time friend, jazz pianist Alvaro Is Rojas, who taught him piano improvisation, jazz harmony and ear-training for five years, spanning his high school and studies at the Royal Swedish College of Music. Pohjola received a Master's Degree in Jazz Improvisation and Education at the age 20 in the Spring of 1992. His senior recital included his first recorded adult compositions, after which he was invited to join STIM, the collecting society for songwriters, composers and music publishers of Sweden. Berklee and Boston 1992-95 After graduating from Stockholm, Pohjola moved to Boston, Massachusetts to study under a scholarship at Berklee College of Music. His continued studies were also supported by his Swedish college, where he had performed his studies with a Summa cum laude. His Berklee professors included Herb Pomeroy in line writing, Gary Burton in improvisation, Phil Wilson in big band, Ed Bedner in classical piano, and Hal Crook in theoretical improvisation studies.

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3
Album Review

Mika Pohjola, Dan Loomis, Kyle Struve: Trio Hour

Read "Trio Hour" reviewed by Chris Mosey


Mika Pohjola is a man of many talents. He runs the New York-based Blue Music Group--"the small label with big music." He has collaborated on albums of religious and traditional Finnish, Swedish music, given classical recitals, accompanied vocalists Jill Walsh and Johanna Grüssner and gigged with diverse jazz aggregations. It would be a shame if any of this got in the way of his achievement with this album, which presents him with a chance to stand up ...

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Interview

Mika Pohjola: The Ever Search

Read "Mika Pohjola: The Ever Search" reviewed by Maxwell Chandler


From studying music theory with his father to attending Vantaa Music Institute and the Royal College of Music, Mika Pohjola's life has been entwined with both music and the pursuit of knowledge. His work mirrors his desire to journey ever outward, searching for ways to incorporate the various influences and inspirations which have helped him create an oeuvre which defies easy categorization.

Early Classical Life

All About Jazz: You initially studied ...

346
Album Review

Mika Pohjola: Northern Sunrise

Read "Northern Sunrise" reviewed by Warren Allen


With Northern Sunrise, pianist Mika Pohjola steps into the space between old and new worlds. Close attention reveals a diverse range of influences here, from the worlds of Baroque and the avant-garde, to old school bop and '70s rock-fusion. There's a little solo piano, some trio arrangements, and wonderful quintet explorations. But what makes this perhaps one of the best of 2009 is that it is jazz that truly captures the emotion, refinement, and power of great classical music.

For ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Mika Pohjola

Read "Take Five With Mika Pohjola" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Mika Pohjola: Mika was born in Finland in 1971. He was an eager young pianist in learning Debussy, Gershwin and Grieg, but didn't want to practice his Beethoven. In 1987, his contract with Beethoven was released by jazz at an undisclosed sum. He moved to Sweden to study with the great Alvaro Is Rojas. While seriously studying tangible information of jazz harmony, improvisation and ear-training, he also graduated from the Royal College in Stockholm. In 1992-94, he was challenged ...

327
Album Review

Mika Pohjola: Leivonen Lumimyrskyssa - Celebrating The Music Of Toivo Karki

Read "Leivonen Lumimyrskyssa - Celebrating The Music Of Toivo Karki" reviewed by Mark Sabbatini


Perhaps the most intriguing question about a tribute album like this is the original performer's reaction to a modern shakeup of their work. Approval? Outrage? Indifference? A key factor, aside from quality, might be the artist's inclination for departure from convention. If so, Finnish composer Toivo Kärki probably would approve much, if not everything, about this 2005 release by a fellow countryman.

Leivonen Lumimyrskyssä is a documentary as well as musical experience by pianist and composer Mika Pohjola, ...

554
Album Review

Mika Pohjola: Scandinavian Yuletide Voices

Read "Scandinavian Yuletide Voices" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Mika Pohjola's Yuletide Voices provide us the most refreshing take on holiday music released this year. These self-produced Scandinavian Yuletide Voices are exactly that, Scandinavian, with a disclaimer... there are non-Scandinavian pieces here. Pohjola leads a bright orchestra of voices capably supported by an eclectic group of musicians through a truly international assembly of songs, evoking a myriad of holiday moods. This, coupled with an unusual and not so unusual repertoire, make for a successful holiday offering.

The ...

158
Album Review

Mika Pohjola: Muminr

Read "Muminr" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


New York City based pianist/composer Mika Pohjola is noted for his forward thinking strategies, due to his multifaceted and thoroughly impressive jazz discography. However, this project sheds yet another light on the artist’s all encompassing visions and penchant for delving into non-jazz related activities. This release is founded upon the works of novelist Tove Jansson’s Moomin stories. Pohjola states that these works are “often portrayed as children’s fairy tales,” while adding, “Moomin stories can be enjoyed on many levels and ...

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6

Recording

BlueMusicGroup.com Gives Away Entire Albums As Free MP3 Downloads

BlueMusicGroup.com Gives Away Entire Albums As Free MP3 Downloads

Source: Mika Pohjola

In the era of Spotify and Pandora streaming subscriptions, jazz and classical downloads have become an ever-less popular form of listening to music. While Compact Disc sales have surged somewhat, streaming is in 2015 the predominant way to consume music. BlueMusicGroup.com—The Small Label With Big Music—has taken bold measures to make their MP3 download items more popular. Music by Chick Corea, Miguel Zenón, Ben Monder, Mika Pohjola, Chris Cheek, Matt Penman, Fernando Huergo and several others are now available at ...

Performance / Tour

Children's Songs By Chick Corea Recorded By Pianist Mika Pohjola

Children's Songs By Chick Corea Recorded By Pianist Mika Pohjola

Source: Mika Pohjola

Pianist and composer Mika Pohjola has released a new album containing twenty Children's Songs by multiple Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Chick Corea. Children's Songs mainly consists of short songs with simple themes. There is little motivic development in these songs, which rather capture a variety of melodies and moods. Corea, today 73, began writing the first song in 1971. In the preface of the original recording, Corea stated that he aimed “to convey simplicity as beauty, as represented in ...

Performance / Tour

Pianist Mika Pohjola Presents A Stockholm Concert Series

Source: Mika Pohjola

Pianist and composer Mika Pohjola presents a weekly concert series at the Finnish Church (Finska Kyrkan/Suomalainen Kirkko) in Stockholm spanning July and August 2014. The series features notable guest artists from Sweden and Finland, in a duo and trio format, who will perform with Pohjola every Wednesday starting at 11:30 am. They will present music in the jazz and Scandinavian troubadour idioms, including jazz standards, original compositions and hymns. The series will feature Finnish singer-songwriter Fredrik Furu (July 2), Åland ...

Recording

New York Session Group Rides High On "Trio Hour"

New York Session Group Rides High On "Trio Hour"

Source: All About Jazz

Pianist Mika Pohjola, bassist Dan Loomis and drummer Kyle Struve played 2005-09 on a weekly basis in Pohjola's studio on East 14th Street in Manhattan. The trio specialized in exploring improvisational concepts based on the framework and form of jazz standards. And this fine outing, Trio Hour, recorded in early 2007, is precisely that: Jazz standards and explorations beyond. The first four tracks, consisted of Con Alma by Dizzy Gillespie, Conception by George Shearing, In Your Own Sweet Way by ...

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Book / Magazine

Jazz pianist Mika Pohjola releases "101 Compositions"

Source: Mika Pohjola

One Hundred One compositions by Mika Pohjola is one of most important musical statements to-date by the Finnish-born New York jazz pianist who also writes classical music. In 2009, Pohjola was cited as one of fifty “most influential pianists since 1990," by Jazz, a 700- page book on jazz history, authored by Gary Giddins and Scott DeVeaux. Pohjola has recorded a majority of his compositions with his own ensembles, featuring his contemporaries on the jazz scene, saxophonists Miguel Zenon, Steve ...

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Interview

Pianist Mika Pohjola Interviewed at AAJ

Pianist Mika Pohjola Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

From studying music theory with his father to attending Vantaa Music Institute and the Royal College of Music, Mika Pohjola's life has been entwined with both music and the pursuit of knowledge. His work mirrors his desire to journey ever outward, searching for ways to incorporate the various influences and inspirations which have helped him create an oeuvre which defies easy categorization.

AAJ Contributor Maxwell Chandler spoke with the Finnish-raised, New York-resident Pohjola about a fortunate childhood exposed to both ...

168

Recording

Pohjola, Zenon, Monder, Huergo Release Still Alive on BlueMusicGroup.com

Pohjola, Zenon, Monder, Huergo Release Still Alive on BlueMusicGroup.com

Source: All About Jazz

MikaSonik, the eclectic jazz-fusion quintet led by New York-based Finnish pianist and composer Mika Pohjola, released its aptly titled studio album, Landmark, in 2002. Featuring a first rate lineup with Miguel Zenon on saxophone, Ben Monder on guitar, Fernando Huergo on bass and Roberto Dani on drums, Still Alive is in contrary a one-night unedited live recording. It documents the talents of each musician, but moreover it highlights the incredible stability and rapport of the group as a whole. This ...

166

Recording

Mika Pohjola & Jill Walsh Release "Two for the Road"

Mika Pohjola & Jill Walsh Release "Two for the Road"

Source: All About Jazz

Two For The Road featuring pianist Mika Pohjola and vocalist Jill Walsh is now released! “American Broadway Songs With A Classy Avant Garde Touch" became the trademark of Nashville-based vocalist Jill Walsh and New York-pianist Mika Pohjola at the turn of the millenium. Ms. Walsh and Mr. Pohjola met in Boston in the early 90's, and started making frequent appearances with their off-off repertory at The Knitting Factory, New York's stronghold for left-off-the-center creations. Appearing as so-called mainstream artists, Ms. ...

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Performance / Tour

Gene Ess Quartet featuring Mika Pohjola, Harvie S, and Greg Ritchie performing at Jimmy's Freestyle Jazz - May 11, 2006 10PM

Gene Ess Quartet featuring Mika Pohjola, Harvie S, and Greg Ritchie performing at Jimmy's Freestyle Jazz - May 11, 2006 10PM

Source: All About Jazz

Gene Ess Quartet: Gene Ess, guitar Mika Pohjola, piano Harvie S, bass Greg Ritchie, drums

Jimmy's Freestyle Jazz May 22, 2006 10:00 pm 43 East 7th Street NYC 212-982-3006 www.Freestylejazz.com

Guitarist Gene Ess draws the traits that identify his style with firm brush strokes. On the one hand, we have his jazz streak, and on the other hand, his exquisite sensitivity with ...

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Performance / Tour

Gene Ess, Harvie S, TaKe Toriyama, and Mika Pohjola @ Freddy's Backroom 4/22/06 10PM

Gene Ess, Harvie S, TaKe Toriyama, and Mika Pohjola @ Freddy's Backroom 4/22/06 10PM

Source: All About Jazz

Gene Ess Quartet featuring Mika Pohjola, Harvie S, and TaKe Toriyama performing at Freddy's Backroom, Brooklyn - April 22, 2006 10PM

A rare combination of facility and emotion drives Sandbox and Sanctum with energy and unrelenting genius of composition. Ess has put together a fascinating Quartet featuring Mika Pohjola (piano), TaKe Toriyama (drums), and Harvie S (bass). Ess's out of the box, hard driving, modern guitar lines create a release filled with depth and angular colors. Sandbox and Sanctum is ...

Mika Pohjola has been the recipient of some conspicuous attention these days. A stylist who possesses enormous chops, Pohjola delivers the goods in prominent fashion. Mika Pohjola is a young talent on an upward spiral. Sparked by a skilled rhythm section, the pianist pronounces a highly literate jazz vernacular yet counterbalances some of the austere implications with buoyant interplay and airy lyricism that provides an indelible stamp of authenticity. The Down Beat Magazine Finnish pianist/composer Mika Pohjola is a superb technician who also possesses a crafty compositional pen. This 1998 effort represents a joyous event that supersedes a good portion of the nondescript, overly hyped, and rigorously marketed 1990s and 2000s brand of post-bop

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Stockholm

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Chick Corea:...

Blue Music Group
2014

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Trio Hour

Blue Music Group
2013

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Northern Sunrise

Blue Music Group
2009

buy

Leivonen...

Change Records
2006

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Scandinavian Yuletide...

Change Records
2004

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Landmark

Abovoice
2002

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Children's Song No. 20

From: Chick Corea: Children's Songs
By Mika Pohjola

Har du sett Herr Kantarell

From: Nu ska vi sjunga (Now We Shall...
By Mika Pohjola

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