Description
The Siba Talks interview series features top‑level musicians and artists who talk about their lives, careers and the music that matters to them. The interviewer is Keval Shah, lecturer at the Sibelius Academy, pianist and host. The audience can also ask questions. The interview language is English.
Performers
Verneri Pohjola
Verneri Pohjola is one of Europe’s most respected jazz musicians, known for his distinctive voice as a trumpeter and composer. His playing combines warmth, clarity and intensity, while his compositions stand out for their boldness, strong melodies and progressive, personal style.
Pohjola has received wide critical acclaim throughout his career. His album Bullhorn garnered abundant praise, and Jazzwise described it as one of the finest albums of its era. The album also earned him an Emma award in 2015. Pohjola has additionally been honored with the prestigious Yrjö award and was a nominee for the Nordic Council Music Prize in 2021.
Coming from a musical family, Pohjola first emerged as a member of the award‑winning Ilmiliekki Quartet. His recognizable sound is built on lyrical purity and expressive improvisation that avoids clichés and expands the boundaries of Nordic jazz.
In recent years Pohjola has continued his artistic renewal with releases such as The Dead Don’t Dream, by forming a new international quartet and undertaking significant collaborative projects. Among these is a trumpet concerto written for him by composer Kaija Saariaho, which has further cemented his position as one of the most innovative jazz musicians of his generation.
Keval Shah
British‑Indian pianist Keval Shah (born 1993), a multiple international competition winner, has performed in many of Europe’s most important concert halls and festivals and has recorded for labels including Deutsche Grammophon.
Valued for his intellectual and creative artistic vision, Shah is a pioneer as a concert designer and curator. He regularly commissions contemporary music and creates artistic projects that blend different genres, cultures and philosophies. His work is driven by an interest in intercultural and multicultural processes and the artistic and societal opportunities they reveal.
Alongside his duties at the Sibelius Academy, Keval regularly works as a presenter for the BBC, most recently in a documentary on Kaija Saariaho’s latest projects.
Changes are possible.
More information: Janne Ikäheimo, janne.ikaheimo@uniarts.fi