Verneri Pohjola wryly observes in this set’s liner notes that he’s now been “a young jazz musician” for around 20 years – a perception that makes the Finnish trumpeter/composer’s new album something of an audit of where he’s currently at, as well as a heartfelt testament to his love of traditional lyricism in jazz. This is a beautifully executed, and quietly surprise-packed set: Pohjola’s pristine sound and wide range lead resourceful improvisations from a fine band. There are originals that embrace romantically slow-paced folk themes reminiscent of Tord Gustavsen; softly-blown tone-poems over soft mallet-patterns; time-juggling sprints; and stately fanfares prodded by restless drums. Everything orbits around Pohjola himself: his early-Miles poise on ballads and clean articulation at speed, his certainty at the deepest and highest registers, and his sparing use of warped-note effects. But regular pianist Aki Rissanen has a compatible melodic imagination and instinct to bend the familiar into unfamiliar shapes, and it all feels connected: this is a venture with a compelling narrative shape.
