Tuomo & Markus with Verneri Pohjola

Tuomo & Markus is a Helsinki-based band fronted by acclaimed Finnish soul artist/jazz musician Tuomo Prättälä and singer-songwriter Markus Nordenstreng of the Latebirds. The group’s six-piece live lineup includes Finnish jazz trumpet sensation Verneri Pohjola.

Tuomo & Markus started almost by accident. The two singer-songwriters were killing time in Tucson, Arizona and ended up cutting some new music together at a local studio. They were joined in the studio by friends who included Wilco’s John Stirratt and Pat Sansone, Calexico members John Convertino, Joey Burns, and Jakob Valenzuela, as well as Gary Louris from the Jayhawks, who also contributed the album’s opening track, "Over The Rooftops." The resulting debut album, Dead Circles, was released in North America in September 2018, gaining favorable reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and KEXP. 

Following their album release, Tuomo & Markus started working on new music together with their California-based pal Jonathan Wilson (Roger Waters, Father John Misty). These recording sessions (which also featured guitar legend Marc Ribot) turned into a double album, Game Changing (due 2022). 

While in lockdown Tuomo & Markus also recorded an instrumental album with Verneri Pohjola. The album will be released later this year in Dolby Atmos.

While their craftsmanship and timeless songwriting are rooted in the Great American Songbook, and some of their harmonies may be reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel, Tuomo & Markus have unique voices of their own. Their fearless arrangements combine cosmic Americana with cinematic soundscapes ranging from Nordic jazz to rootsy folk, soul, and even prog rock. With Pohjola on board, the band’s jazz and psychedelic influences have become all the more evident.