Trumpet-player and composer Verneri Pohjola will publish his long-awaited new album Monkey Mind in November 2023. The title of the album refers to the restlessness of the mind.
"When your mind is strained by discord and excessive stress, everything feels chaotic. The mind is filled with suspicions of if you’re enough - good enough or able enough. With the songs on the album, I have tried especially to meet my own monkey mind and greet it in a friendly manner," says Pohjola.

The new album also brings a new levity with it. Pohjola has composed new songs without paying mind to whether they are "jazz enough” or "fresh enough". He simply wanted to enjoy making music as himself once again.

Pohjola managed to find a real dream team for the album: each member is among the European elite in their careers and in music.

"I dared to contact the musicians I really wanted. I've enjoyed the art of the British pianist and organist Kit Downes since I first heard it. Kit's playing was in some way very easy to understand, emotional, masterful and abstract all at the same time. I immediately thought that I wanted to play with him some day. Our Danish bassist Jasper Høiby’s whole persona radiates bright, positive energy and his work in the band is done through particularly admirable dedication.

When I thought about these two musicians in the same band, the thought of Olavi Louhivuori as a drummer came naturally to my mind. Olavi's musical and human presence is pure gold. We have played together in different bands since 2001," explains Pohjola.

Monkey Mind will be published via the British Edition Records on 3 November 2023.

Verneri Pohjola, trumpet and effects
Kit Downes, piano
Jasper Høiby, string bass
Olavi Louhivuori, drums

Duration 1 h 30 min

Verneri Pohjola: Monkey Mind

The event “Verneri Pohjola: Monkey Mind” has ended