Search - Mika Pohjola :: Landmark

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. 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. -- Bill Milkowski