Mika Pohjola facts for kids

Mika Pohjola (born December 1, 1971) is a talented jazz pianist and composer from Finland. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Mika is known as one of the most active jazz musicians of his time in Scandinavia.

About Mika Pohjola

Growing Up in Finland (1971-1987)

Mika Pohjola was born in Helsinki, Finland. He grew up nearby in Vantaa. Mika went to a Steiner school. His first instrument was the violin. Later, he learned to play the drums.

In 1979, Mika started learning piano and basic music theory. His father, Heikki Pohjola, a Finnish jazz guitarist, taught him. In 1981, Mika joined the Helsinki cathedral boy choir, Cantores Minores. The choir was led by Heinz Hofmann.

The next year, Mika started studying at the Vantaa Conservatory. He learned classical piano, music theory, and composition. He also began playing jazz and improvising music freely. Mika enjoyed classical composers like Claude Debussy, Edvard Grieg, and Johann Sebastian Bach. He also liked Finnish composers such as Aarre Merikanto.

Mika's father introduced him to jazz artists. He listened to music by Art Tatum, Charlie Parker, and Oscar Peterson. Mika performed classical music by Mozart, Beethoven, and Debussy. In 1987, he won a shared second prize in a piano competition in Vantaa. He also represented his city at the Ilmari Hannikainen Piano Competition.

Studying Music in Sweden (1987-1992)

In 1987, Mika moved to Stockholm, Sweden. He studied jazz and classical music at the Södra Latin Music Gymnasium. There, he met Alvaro Is Rojas, a jazz pianist. Alvaro became Mika's mentor and friend. He taught Mika piano improvisation, jazz harmony, and ear-training for five years.

Mika continued his studies at the Royal Swedish College of Music. In 1992, at age 20, he earned a master's degree. His degree was in Jazz Improvisation and Education. After his final performance, he was invited to join STIM. This group helps songwriters and composers in Sweden. In 1991, Mika also performed on Swedish Radio for the first time.

Berklee College and Boston (1992-1995)

After finishing his studies in Stockholm, Mika moved to Boston, Massachusetts. He received a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music. His Swedish college also supported his studies because he had done so well.

At Berklee, Mika learned from famous professors. These included Herb Pomeroy, Gary Burton, and Hal Crook. He also met many musicians he would work with later. Some of these were Jill Walsh, Johanna Grüssner, and Matt Penman. Mika graduated from Berklee in 1994 with honors and several awards. That same year, he recorded his album Myths and Beliefs. Gunther Schuller produced this album.

Performing Around the World (1995-2002)

In 1995, Mika settled in New York City. He became part of the city's lively jazz scene. He performed at famous jazz clubs like Blue Note, Birdland, and The Jazz Standard. He played with many talented musicians, including Chris Cheek, Mark Turner, and Miguel Zenón.

Mika began touring Europe often. He usually led his own bands from New York. In 1999, 2001, and 2002, he visited Ukraine. He went as a cultural representative for Finland. Mika also formed a duo called Sound of Village with Yusuke Yamamoto. They played freely improvised music. They often performed at the Knitting Factory in New York. In 2000, Sound of Village released their album. They also toured in Scandinavia and Japan.

Creating and Recording Music (2002-2006)

As Mika recorded his first albums, he became very interested in using the recording studio. He saw it as a way to create new sounds, not just to record live music. For his 2002 album Landmark, he recorded songs with multiple voices. He worked with Finnish singer Johanna Grüssner.

The success of Landmark led to more work with Johanna. They recorded all the original Moomin music songs. These songs were by Tove Jansson and Erna Tauro. Moomin Voices was released in Swedish in 2003 and in Finnish in 2005. Mika's next album, A Lark in the Snowstorm (2006), featured his unique arrangements of tangos.

Working with Singers

Mika has always enjoyed working with jazz singers. He started collaborating with vocalists in Sweden in the late 1980s. Some of his early partners were Rigmor Gustafsson and Lisa Werlinder. In Boston, he worked with Johanna Grüssner. They released an album called Swedish Traditional Songs in 2006. Mika has also performed and recorded three albums with Nashville-based singer Jill Walsh.

Teaching Music

Since 1993, Mika has often taught at music schools. He especially teaches at conservatories in Scandinavia. From 1995 to 2008, he was the jazz leader at the international Nilsiä Summer Music Camp. Since 2016, he has been a professor at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm.

Awards and Honors

Mika Pohjola has been a Steinway Distinguished Artist since 1997. This means he is recognized as a top pianist who plays Steinway pianos. He has also been a major visiting artist at Berklee College of Music since 2006.

Recent Work

Mika's recent albums include Northern Sunrise. On this album, he worked with Steve Wilson and Ben Monder. He also released a solo piano album called Great Tunes by My Friends. This album features music by Kurt Rosenwinkel, Monder, and Reid Anderson.

Mika also plays Argentine chacarera music and jazz with bassist Fernando Huergo. They recorded Provinciano in 2008. Mika also helped mix and master this album. He has also mixed and mastered other albums, such as It's About Time by Terry Clarke and Duende by Alvaro Is Rojas.

Discography

As Leader

• Chick Corea: Children's Songs, 2014
• Trio Hour, 2013
• The Red Bicycle, 2009
• Great Tunes by My Friends, 2009
• Christmas Carols, 2009
• Northern Sunrise, 2009
• A Lark in the Snowstorm, 2006
• Moomin Voices/Muumilauluja - in Finnish, 2005
• Ball Play, 2003
• Moomin Voices/Muminröster - in Swedish, 2003
• Landmark, 2002
• Sound of Village, 2000
• Live At The Blue Note, recorded 1996, released 2000
• English Breakfast, 1999
• Announcement, 1998
• The Secret of the Castle, 1997
• Jazz Capital of the World, 1996
• Myths and Beliefs, 1996
• Reflections in Real Time, 1994

As Sideman

• Nu ska vi sjunga, 2013 w. Johanna Grüssner
• Svenska psalmer - Swedish Hymns, 2013 w. Johanna Grüssner
• Zero, 2011 w. Maria Neckam
• Live on Broadway, 2009 w. Jill Walsh
• Provinciano, 2008, w. Fernando Huergo
• Two for the Road, 2008 w. Jill Walsh
• Suomalaisia Lauluja 2007 w. Eeppi Ursin
• Live at the Savoy 2006 w. Grupo Nuevo
• Swedish Traditional Songs, 2006 w. Johanna Grüssner
• Grandes Éxitos del Tango, 2003 w. Tango Republic
• Live at Regattabar 2002 w. Fernando Huergo
• Still Alive, 2001 w. Miguel Zenón
• Taste of Honey 1998 w. Jill Walsh
• Improvisations, 1997 w. George Garzone
• Johanna Grüssner Band, 1995 w. Johanna Grüssner
• Orange, 1994 w. Sophie Dunér

See also

• List of jazz pianists
• List of American composers
• List of Finnish composers