Kimmo Pohjonen

Kimmo Pohjonen Biography

Kimmo Pohjonen is a famous Accordionist, who was born on August 16, 1964 in Finland. Kimmo Pohjonen (born August 16, 1964) is a Finnish accordionist who is known for his avant-garde and experimental work with his custom-made electrified and modified instrument. He has released nine albums of his work and has toured Europe extensively, as well as performances in Japan and some in North America. He records and performs both solo and in collaboration with musicians and other artists, including the Kronos Quartet, and percussionist Pat Mastelotto and guitarist Trey Gunn of King Crimson. Pohjonen still lives in Finland when not on the road. He has performed with one of his daughters, Saana, who plays the drums. According to Astrologers, Kimmo Pohjonen's zodiac sign is Leo.

He composes works during the winter months in Finland, improvising and playing for hours but does not write notes while improvising. While he says he has images in his head when he composes and plays, he is reluctant to share his own concepts about the meanings of his works. David Harrington of Kronos Quartet said, referring to hearing Pohjonen’s music for the first time “Every once in a while you hear a musician and you think, ‘why have I never heard this guy before?’ That’s what I thought when I first heard Kimmo’s CD,” he says. “The music was invigorating, life-affirming, disturbing, incredible – and kind of alarming. It was all of these things mixed into one experience. “

He generally is involved in several projects at once, both solo and in collaboration with other artists. One major collaboration has been with the Kronos Quartet, which began in 2003. In San Francisco, he worked with the string quartet to create an 80-minute work called Uniko, which was premiered in Helsinki. Another major collaboration is with Samuli Kosminen and two King Crimson members, percussionist Pat Mastelotto and guitarist Trey Gunn. The four play together under the name of KTU (pronounced K-2) and have toured Europe extensively. They also produced an album called Eight-Armed Monkey.

In addition to music, Pohjonen has been involved in television and film projects. He appeared on the 2013 television special Nordisk prisgalla, and episodes of television series Puoli seitsemän (2011), Strada (2010), Maria! (2010), Arto Nyberg (2007) and Later with Jools Holland (2000). He has written Yle Live: Kimmo Kohjonen Special (TV Movie, 2014), Soundbreaker (documentary, 2012), Salla: Selling the Silence (documentary, 2010), Jadesoturi (2006), Mayak (2006), Päivä isän kanssa (short documentary, 1999). He appeared as an accordion player on a balcony in the 1999 film Pikkusisar.