Mika Pohjola
Mika Pohjola (December 1, 1971 Helsinki, Finland –) is a Finnish-born jazz pianist and composer, who resides in New York City.
Biography
Mika Pohjola grew up in Vantaa, Finland, outside the capital, Helsinki. He studied piano and basic music theory with his father, Heikki Pohjola, before entering the Helsinki cathedral boy choir, Cantores Minores in 1982. He then pursued studies in classical piano, music theory and counterpoint at the Vantaa Music Institute, receiving a shared second prize in the city's classical piano competition in 1987. That same year, Pohjola moved to Stockholm, Sweden to study jazz and classical music at the Södra Latin Music Gymnasium. In Stockholm he met his mentor and long-time friend, jazz pianist Alvaro Is Rojas, who taught him piano improvisation and jazz ear-training for five years. Pohjola entered the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and received a Master's Degree in Jazz Education at the age 20.
In 1992 Pohjola moved to Boston, Massachusetts to for further studies at Berklee College of Music. His main professors included Herb Pomeroy, Gary Burton, Phil Wilson, Ed Bedner and Hal Crook. Pohjola also met some of his future collaborators, such as Johanna Grüssner, Matt Penman, Roberto Dani, Fernando Huergo, Sophie Dunér and Yusuke Yamamoto. Pohjola graduated from Berklee with honors in 1994.
Pohjola settled in New York City in 1995 and became a part of the thriving downtown jazz scene. His bands featured, among others, saxophonists Chris Cheek, Mark Turner and Miguel Zenón, guitarist Ben Monder, bassists Matt Penman, Johannes Weidenmüller and Fernando Huergo, drummers Roberto Dani, Darren Beckett, Jochen Rückert, Matt Wilson and Mark Ferber. Pohjola often toured Europe, and performed in his native Finland, Sweden, Denmark, The United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Pohjola also visited Ukraine in 1999, 2001 and 2002 as a cultural representative of the Finnish Foreign Ministry. He also performed free improvisations with Yusuke Yamamoto in Sound of Village duo, which often performed at the Knitting Factory in New York City, and toured Finland and Japan. In the years 2002-2005, Pohjola spent much time in his own recording studio, documenting his vigorous arrangements of Scandinavian traditional and popular music. His main collaborators included Theo Bleckmann, Rigmor Gustafsson, Lisa Werlinder, Sanni Orasmaa, Alan Ferber, David Ambrosio, Christof Knoche, Laura Arpiainen and Ayumi Takeshima. Pohjola collected, rearranged and produced the entire catalog of the original Moomin fairy-tale music as a tribute to its late author, Tove Jansson. He also recorded Scandinavian Christmas music on Scandinavian Yuletide Voices, and a tribute to the Finnish legendary tango composer, Toivo Kärki on the album, Leivonen lumimyrskyssä (A Lark in a Snowstorm).
Pohjola has since 1995 been jazz piano principal and theory teacher at the Nilsiä Music Camp in Finland. Additionally, he has been a guest lecturer at many conservatories in Scandinavia. In 2006 Pohjola lectured twice at Berklee College of Music as a major visiting artist.
Pohjola currently plays with bassist and composer Fernando Huergo's quintet, which performs jazz compositions under strong influence of Chacarera. He also leads several groups in Finland, such as the popular Moomin Voices (aka. Muumilauluja-bändi) which often performs at children's events and festivals.
Discography
Arranger and Producer
| Title | Featuring | Contents | label | Year |
| Leivonen lumimyrskyssä Listen |
Henrik Lamberg Sanni Orasmaa Eeppi Ursin |
New arrangements of music by Toivo Kärki |
Change Records | 2006 |
| Scandinavian Yuletide Voices Listen |
Theo Bleckmann Rigmor Gustafsson Sanni Orasmaa Lisa Werlinder Eeppi Ursin |
Scandinavian Christmas Carols | Change Records | 2005 |
| Moomin Voices – Muumilauluja Listen |
Mirja Mäkelä Eeppi Ursin |
The Finnish edition of the Moomin songbook | Change Records | 2005 |
| Moomin Voices – Muminröster Listen |
Johanna Grüssner | The Swedish edition of the Moomin songbook | Change Records | 2003 |
Jazz Composer and Pianist
| Title | Featuring | Label | Year |
| Landmark Listen |
Ben Monder Miguel Zenón Fernando Huergo Roberto Dani Johanna Grüssner |
Abovoice/ Change Records |
2002 |
| The Music of Mika Pohjola Listen |
Miguel Zenón Chris Cheek Jill Seifers Siri Larsen |
Abovoice/ Change Records |
2002 |
| Live at the Blue Note Listen |
Matt Penman Roberto Dani |
Change Records | 2000 |
| Announcement Listen |
Chris Cheek Matt Penman Roberto Dani |
YLE | 1998 |
| On the Move Listen |
Chris Cheek Matt Penman Roberto Dani |
MikaMusik | 1997 |
| Myths & Beliefs Listen |
Mick Goodrick Bruno Råberg Roberto Dani |
GM Recordings | 1997 |
Co-leader and Sideman
| Title | Featuring/Leader | Label | Year |
| Nu blir sommar Listen |
Johanna Grüssner | Change Records | 2007 |
| Live at the Regattabar | Fernando Huergo | Fresh Sound | 2002 |
| Sound of Village Listen |
Yusuke Yamamoto | Splasc(H) Records | 2001 |
| Hur man räddar kärleken & annat | Johanna Grüssner | YLE | 2000 |
| Improvisations | Gary Davis Heckard feat. George Garzone |
GDH Music | 1997 |
| Johanna Grüssner Band | Johanna Grüssner feat. Casey Scheuerell |
Johanna Grüssner | 1995 |
| Orange | Sophie Dunér | Berklee College of Music | 1994 |