Verneri Pohjola

Verneri Pohjola has established a reputation as one of Finland's leading -- and busiest -- jazz musicians, but music is in his blood, as he's the son of Pekka Pohjola, one of the country's most adventurous bass players who came of age in the prog rock era of the 1970s. Born in Helsinki, Pohjola grew up on movie soundtracks and rock playing "a little bit of everything" before settling mostly on trumpet in a school orchestra. His brother introduced him to jazz, which has become his main love. He does still play piano and drums "to fend off boredom." He's active in five bands, Qu...