Kimmo Pohjonen

Kimmo Pohjonen
Kimmo Pohjonen
Kimmo Pohjonen
  • country:Finland
  • style(s):Fusion
  • label:Westpark Music
  • type:Composer/Songwriter
  • gender:male
  • instrumentation:instrumental
  • artist posted by:Westpark Music

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Kimmo Pohjonen is one of the most respected and in-demand musicians and performers in Finland. An accordionist of exceptional ability and imagination, Kimmo's musical history goes back more than twenty years in rock, folk, avantgarde, improvisation, classical, dance and theatre music projects. In 1996 he embarked on a solo career with his solo 5-row accordion project, featuring extreme and original compositions, live loops and effects, a dynamic and animated stage performance, orchestrated lights and quadraphonic sound.

Kimmo's latest stage presentation is the formation known as Kimmo Pohjonen Kluster featuring Kalmuk sampling whiz, Samuli Kosminen. In Kluster, Samuli makes live samples of Kimmo's accordion and voice and reproduces them through electronic drum pads. The result is a multi-dimensional accordion sound never heard before. In some concerts, Kluster also includes Kalmuk percussionist Abdissa Assefan.

Kimmo has composed, created and performed the spectacle Kalmuk, a massive work for 15-piece symphony orchestra, two percussionists (Kosminen and Assefa), quadraphonic sound, live effects and light show. This show debuted in Helsinki in December 2000 and toured England with great success in November 2002. Kimmo Pohjonen is one of the three winners of the first Teosto Prize, given by the Finnish Composers' Copyright Society Teosto in 2003 for his work Kalmuk. A Sibelius Academy jury chose the winners based on originality, courage and innovation. The award of 40.000 euros will be shared with the other winning contemporary artists Kimmo Hakola and Maija Vilkkumaa.

"Something completely different is Kalmuk (Westpark) from the Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and the Tapiola Sinfonietta, recorded live at the Helsinki Savoy. Usually taking listeners into a sinister avant-garde
world of wheezing,loops and sounds beyond description, this time Pohjonen has gone all classical on us. And it's fantastic." (MOJO, February 2003)