Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola (b.1977) recently signed to Edition Records, having made two albums for ACT, the first of which was Finnish jazz record of the year in 2009. He is the son of the virtuoso bass guitarist Pekka Pohjola (1952-2008), an influential figure in jazz and rock in Finland, who worked with Mike Oldfield n the 1970s and, much later, was a musical mentor and hero of pianist Iiro Rantala.

Verneri Pohjola has been at the last two London Jazz Festivals, appearing on free-stages in both 2012 and 2012 and 2013. Dave Stapleton, who is excited by the signing, writes that “this concert marks the start of a new era with a greater sense of maturity in writing and playing.” Pohjola does also have a sense of humour – he was recently filmed in a bike shop playing Sibelius Finlandia unaccompanied on cycle handlebars.

Pohjola will be at the Forge on with the members of his regular quartet :pianist Aki Rissanen, bassist Antti Lötjönen and drummer Teppo Mäkynen. Their record Another Day, their first for Edition,will be issued in early 2015. The Forge event will be recorded and filmed.

EVENT DETAILS ON FORGE WEBSITE