Mika Pohjola
Mika Pohjola ( born December 1, 1971 in Helsinki) is a Finnish jazz pianist and composer who works in New York.
Life and work
Pohjola grew up in Vantaa, near Helsinki on and attended a Rudolf Steiner School. He first began to learn the violin, then switched to drums and finally to the piano, on which he received his first lessons from his father, jazz guitarist Heikki Pohjola. He sang in the boys' choir of the Cathedral of Helsinki and studied classical piano at the Conservatoire in Vantaa. In 1987 he continued his studies in Stockholm, where he in 1992 a Master's degree in Jazz graduated from the Royal College of Music. He then went to the Berklee College of Music where he studied with Gary Burton, Phil Wilson, Hal Crook, and Herb Pomeroy. After graduation in 1994 he participated in the Quartet on his debut album, Myths and Beliefs, which appeared at GM Recordings. In 1995 he moved to New York, where he took lessons briefly at Sal Mosca and then in famous jazz clubs like Birdland and the Blue Note ( where a live album was recorded, which was released in 2000 ) occurred.
He toured with his own bands, composed of musicians in New York, in Europe, for example, at the invitation of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. At the same time he joined the duo Sound of Village on with the percussionist and flutist Yusuke Yamamoto, the freely improvised and often occurred at the Knitting Factory. Yamamoto he knew from Berklee. 2000 took the duo on the album Sound of Village. In 2002 he published his landmark album with the Finnish singer Johanna Grüssner. 2003 ( in Swedish, Finnish, 2005 ) was followed by a song with album also Grüssner after the submission of the popular in Finland and Sweden Moomin comics ( by Tove Jansson ). His album A Lark in the Snowstorm contains tango music. He released a solo album Great Tunes from my Friends ( with pieces among other things vonn Kurt Rosenwinkel and Ben Monder ) and 2009 Northern Sunrise ( with Steve Wilson, Ben Moder ).
Besides Grüssner, he knew from Berklee, he also works with other singers such as Jill Walsh. Pohjola also plays Argentine Chacareramusik and jazz with bassist Fernando Huergo (Album Provinciano 2008 Sunnyside Records). He also works as a mixer and recording engineer for other jazz musicians. He also composes classical music.
He has been teaching since 1993, often in Scandinavia, for example, at Kuusamo Summer Music Camp.