Jazz Genre Guides,
Nordic Jazz
Due to its impressive scope, the Norwegian jazz scene often serves as a linchpin for the entire output of the Scandinavian region as a whole. This has often been the case, thanks in no small part to the flurry of attention Nordic musicians began receiving in the early seventies – a time that saw European voices share equal footing alongside their American counterparts. One of the first external figures to pursue an active interest in the European jazz world beyond their own native background was free-thinking jazz musician and theorist, George Russell (1923-2009). He collaborated with numerous ensembles across Norway and Sweden, forming in 1969 ‘The Esoteric Circle’ that comprised saxophonist Jan Garbarek, guitarist Terje Rypdal, bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Jon Christensen – a core assembly of jazzers who would quickly shape the burgeoning ‘Nordic’ sound in their own unique fashion. Each of these musicians has become famous for their work across several distinctive styles of music, having gone on to inspire countless others in their wake.
A pivotal moment arrived in the form of the saxophonist’s second album, Afric Pepperbird (1971), the seventh release in the esteemed ECM Records catalogue and the first recording to properly introduce Norwegian artists into the label’s canon. Initially rising to prominence through his exploration of a more avant-garde and free jazz ethos, Garbarek’s style was one that, in execution, was less concerned with chord changes than it was with concocting esoteric textural qualities and moods.
Whilst ECM has indeed played a significant role in promoting Norwegian jazz artists and bringing them to the attention of a wider international audience, that does not go as far as to say that players are strictly limited to the remit of this one brand. Over the years, labels including Jazzland, Rune Grammofon and Hubro have all triumphed in highlighting performers across various styles and genres of the highest calibre. Throughout its progression, Norwegian jazz has maintained a unique identity characterised by its sense of space, its exploration of folkloric themes of nature and an innate willingness to experiment. The scene has become renowned for its improvisational spirit, the blending of genres and an emphasis on collective creativity, with Norwegian jazz musicians themselves having consistently challenged conventions, forging new paths and making valuable contributions to the global jazz landscape as a whole. Here are just some of our favourite picks, both classic and contemporary, that feature music from this enchanted land:
The recording where it all began for Norwegian jazz in the international limelight. Featuring a lineup whose members would all go on to become legends in their own right, this album is a marvellous revelation in its blend of free-form and groove. A significant departure from the traditional jazz conventions that had preceded it, Afric Pepperbird helped establish Garbarek as a leading figure in the movement and paved the way for subsequent jazz fusion experimentation in Europe.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Six years after showcasing her impressive range and flexibility on Joy (1968), which also featured Garbarek and Andersen among its personnel, this album swaps the former recording’s post-bop trippiness for an altogether more soulful affair that leans towards a more contemporary and polished sound. A landmark release of deep vocal jazz that has aged remarkably well, obtaining its own special vintage in the process.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Norway’s best-selling jazz album and often considered one of the greatest recordings to ever come out of the land of the midnight sun, this intimate session between iconic vocalist Toneff and pianist Steve Dobrogosz retains its immaculate sensitivity even to this day. The unique timbre of Toneff’s haunting voice lends the music an introspective and melancholic quality, often conveying a deep emotional depth whose influence is reflected in the contemporary stylings of vocalists such as Silje Nergaard.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC, Hi-Res+ FLAC
Still one of the most unpredictable yet wildly enthralling experimental acts to have emerged from Europe to date, Per Jørgensen, Audien Kleive and Jon Balke collaborated throughout the nineties in this uncompromising outfit before reforming in 2011 ahead of a short-lived yet sensational comeback. The group’s music still resonates with audiences both in Norway and internationally, continuing to captivate and inspire listeners through the mixture of their collective virtuosity and unique blend of genres.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
An album that cemented Molvær’s reputation as a truly visionary artist, this record garnered widespread acclaim upon its release and has since become a seminal work in the jazz and electronic music genres. Ultimately defying categorisation, Khmer incorporates elements of trip-hop and nu-jazz, all the while maintaining a strong jazz foundation that was unprecedented for its time.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Ushering in a new era of futuristic ambient jazz, trumpeter Arve Henriksen is a curator of his own craft. A luminary similar to Jon Hassell in scope, his flawless instrumental ability allows him to adopt the distant tones of a japanese shakuhachi or indian bansuri as it wafts through chilly terrains. Cinematic and flawless, Henriksen’s career is one full of wonder and delight.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Wang arrives at the intersection of catchy alternative-pop and experimental jazz, mixing gritty basslines with super clean vocal phrasing. Her brand of exciting crossover is immensely listenable in its rich layers of emotional content. Also worth mentioning is her work with powerful trio GURLS and the experimental quartet Pixel, which is equally refreshing and fun.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
HM3 are known throughout Norway and beyond for their unique blend of free jazz, prog and psychedelia all the while committing to a hard-rock drive. The combination of their sheer energy and the power of their bold attitude leaves them as a force to be reckoned with. Under the direction of leader Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen, the group continues to punch up and expand its ever-growing immersive sound.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Langeland's music is deeply rooted in Norwegian tradition, drawing inspiration from ancient folk songs, hymns and poetry before infusing them with her own contemporary jazz sensibility. Her ethereal and versatile voice, coupled with her masterful kantele playing, creates a unique sonic landscape that can only derive from this fabled corner of the world.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Henriette’s self-titled debut in 2015, a sprawling double-album consisting over 90 minutes of miniatures, was inspired by aspects of contemporary jazz, classical and tango. Her sophomore release Drifting is a concise effort that further succinctly captures the cross-disciplinary artist’s talents as a composer and performer in another organic blend. Embracing elements of her Sami-Norwegian identity throughout, she delivers a sense of delicate intensity via the intuitive instrumentation of saxophone, cello and piano.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Known for his virtuosic skills on the tuba, Herskedal’s work demonstrates an instinctive ability to create evocative and immersive musical experiences which immediately capture the listener's imagination with convincing simplicity. We could have chosen to highlight any one of his albums, but his latest release, Out of the Fog, reveals a natural evolution in the tubist’s melodic and emotional expressiveness, which have only become more pronounced over the course of his career.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
One of the leading players of his generation, Dale is a captivating pianist currently championing the Oslo scene. With crystalline moments that allow his unbound imagination to roam free, his emotional nuance is currently second to none. The Wayfarers is a bright and bubbling album of sonic paintings that captures the Norwegian landscape, exploring its topography through the ensemble's lyrical handling of evocative textures.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Barney Whittaker
