CD REVIEW: Verneri Pohjola - Bullhorn

A dolorous tattoo from the toms seems to form part of the melody, blending with an intimate, breathy, buzzing tone from the trumpet on He sleeps, I keep Watch, a heart stoppingly melancholic, march-like ballad on Finnish trumpeter Verneri Pohjola’s first release on Edition Records. There are plenty of lighter moments on this album, but the concentrated intensity of the moment seems to sum up both his distinctive voice (comparisons with Ambrose Akinmusire or Thomas Strønen are tempting) and instinct for a delicately crafted composition.

Bullhorn follows two widely praised recordings on the German ACT label. The critical excitement about those two previous albums (the first, Aurora earned a five star review in the Guardian) signalled that the leader’s writing and arranging is every bit as distinctive as his playing. Bullhorn certainly maintains the quality. It’s an affecting, often reflective and atmospheric set of originals, with plenty of momentum, bursts of energetic improvisation and constant interplay within the quartet featuring Aki Rissanen on piano, Antti Lötjönen on bass and Teppo Mäkynen on drums.

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