Kolibri is the first recording by the Iro Haarla Sextet, which is comprised of six highly regarded Finnish improvisers, each of whom is recognized as a leading proponent on his or her chosen instrument. They are also all leaders or co-leaders of their own highly-lauded groups. The sextet was founded in 2009. Compared to her Finnish-Norwegian quintet that has issued two well-received recordings, for Kolibri, Iro Haarla has utilized the additional compositional possibilities offered by the sextet on seven unique, multi-faceted compositions. In addition to the piano, Haarla plays chen, a Taiwanese folk instrument, on two compositions. Besides Haarla, featured soloists include trumpeter Verneri Pohjola, one of the highest regarded young instrumentalists to come out of Finland in recent years, saxophonist Kari Heinil" and trombonist Jari Hongisto, whose careers and also collaborations with Haarla already began in the 1980 's, as well as bassist Ulf Krokfors and drummer Markku Ounaskari, who have formed one of the best rhythm sections in Finnish modern Jazz for almost as long.