FINLAND: Verneri Pohjola-The Dead Don't Dream (2020)

Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola is a tour de force, unquestionably a huge talent and a musician with a commanding and individual voice who is able to bring warmth and stillness to his playing as much as a vibrant intensity. His writing is strong and bold, adept at finding those hooky melodies that jump out at you as progressive, creative and individual. The Dead Don’t Dream is his fourth album on Edition and sixth in total. His recent offerings represent very different yet coherent albums. Bullhorn (2015) was entirely original and placed Verneri firmly on the European scene as the one to watch. Pekka in 2017 saw him interpreting his famous father's music, bringing a rockier approach and electronics to the party. His latest, Animal Image, was a completely improvised duo with drummer Mika Kallio. Each of these albums challenged Verneri to reach further with his playing, and explore wider soundscapes. Verneri Pohjola - trumpet Tuomo Prättälä - piano & electronics Mika Kallio - drums and gongs Antti Lötjönen - bass Pauli Lyytinen - soprano saxophone & tenor saxophone (on ‘Wilder Brother’ and ‘Suspended’) Miikka Paatelainen - pedal steel (on ‘Monograph’, ‘The Dead Don’t Dream’ and ‘Suspended’) credits released May 1, 2020