Tue Jun 25
Music For Roads is a new 3D instrumental project by some of Europe’s top jazz instrumentalists at the moment. It's also a cross cultural collaboration between Nordic jazz and indie folk/Americana players, who created a unique, cinematic soundscape. The inspiration for these compositions came from the many tours these musicians have done in America over the years. American landscape, history, Americana culture and the current political turmoil created a common thread for these tracks.
Tuomo & Markus – founded by jazz/soul musician Tuomo Prättälä and Americana singer/songwriter Markus Nordenstreng – is an indie folk/Americana band from Helsinki, Finland. Tuomo & Markus have released two double albums to date. Their 2018 debut Dead Circles was a collaboration with the likes of Joey Burns & John Convertino from Calexico, John Stirratt from Wilco and Gary Louris from the Jayhawks. The sophomore Game Changing (2023) saw the duo join forces with producer Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Angel Olsen), Marc Ribot and Verneri Pohjola, who’s joined the band’s live lineup which also includes drummer/trombone player Juho Viljanen, bass player Jere Ijäs and steel guitar player Miikka McGyver Paatelainen.
Verneri Pohjola is not only the greatest Finnish trumpet player to date, he’s also currently one of Europe’s most respected jazz instrumentalists. The son of legendary Finnish bass player legend Pekka Pohjola (Wigwam, Pekka Pohjola Group, Mike Oldfiled), Verneri has released five solo albums to date (Edition Records in the UK), one of which was recently nominated for Nordic Council Music Prize. He is also the founding member of Ilmiliekki Quartet together with piano player Tuomo Prättälä. Finnish composer legend Kaija Saariaho loved Verneri’s sound so much that she recently composed a full orchestral piece for his trumpet.