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MP3 Mika Pohjola, Miguel Zenón, Ben Monder, Fernando Huergo - Landmark
13 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Fusion, JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo
Details:
"Finnish transplant Mika Pohjola has been spoiling for a breakthrough for some time now, and the pianist-composer might just register one with the release of his aptly titled new disc, Landmark."
-- TIME OUT NEW YORK
"Always kicks back for substantial improvisations and quirky compositional gambits that avoid the usual head-solo-head routine."
-- THE VILLAGE VOICE
"Compositionally, Pohjola''s work is involved yet infectious and profoundly melodic, driven by the virtuosity and strong personalities of his players."
--ALL MUSIC GUIDE
"Mika Pohjola represents one of those rare entities in modern music as his often-complex compositional style generally yields straightforward and easily attainable results. A musical mind at work for sure; however, Pohjola''s uncanny knack for integrating sonorous melodies with multi-layered and intricately formulated arrangements elicits notions of listener-friendliness."
-- ALL ABOUT JAZZ . COM
"Landmark is a remarkable fusion of contemporary jazz motifs that highlight the creative genius of composer-pianist, Mika Pohjola. This collection features 13 memorable songs performed to perfection by this gifted pianist and his fellow musicians."
-- JAZZ REVIEW
"I really don''t like to label anyone or categorize an artist, but I have to say it, Mika Pohjola is a modern progressive jazz genius. This is now the third album I have heard by this Finnish born keyboard player and it is unequivocally his most ambitious and complete work to date."
-- Keith "MUZIKMAN" Hannaleck
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Liner Notes by Bill Milkowski
Released in January 2002, composer & pianist Mika Pohjola''s seventh album Landmark with his current working group MikaSonik "is a dedication to the beautiful spirit of New York City" Pohjola says.
"There is a certain drive for pushing boundaries here," he explains.
"And I would rather say pushing boundaries than breaking rules because the rule, whether it''s an observation, assumption or theory, is from the past.
So if you''re breaking the rule the best you can do is come to that state of today.
However, pushing boundaries is more like observing what is going on and trying to take it a little further.
It''s like a rubber band, it never breaks, and it''s not supposed to break.
But when stretching it a little further you see that there''s always room for more exploration." Indeed, he does some serious boundary pushing on provocative pieces like the title track, "Landmark," "Future Apparent," the raucous, anthemic "Young in the ''80s" and the suite-like "Retrospectives." Pohjola has assembled a crackling, flexible crew that can easily run the gamut from odd-metered Zappa-esque romps to soothing, romantic ballads, from Passport-ish fusion vehicles to 4th century Gregorian hymns, from lilting lullabies to searing rock-fueled jams, from evocative, cinematic themes to scintillating Swedish vocalese.
While much of the music here is quite demanding, this skilled unit navigates Pohjola''s tricky meters and intricate unison lines with seasoned aplomb.
And though it may be strictly composed and meticulously arranged material, there is still plenty of room within these structures for the soloists to blow.
With Landmark, Pohjola strikes an appealing balance between heady architecture and heartfelt improvisation.
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