Guitarist Andrés Þór and pianist Agnar Már Magnússon have played together for a long time in various different projects ranging from a school band while they were both teenagers to the collective ASA Trio which they lead with drummer Scott McLemore and everything in between. They have also both been energetic in performing, releasing their own music and leading projects both in Iceland as well as abroad. On March 31st they released a duo album in honor of the late composer Jón Múli Árnason who would have turned 100 years old this year. The title of the album is “Aldarfar“ and it features 11 tunes in all, 9 by Jón Múli and 2 by Agnar and Andrés respectively, specifically composed as a tribute to the late, great composer. For the Reykjavík Jazz concert the duo will perform music from their recently released album. Andrés Þór Gunnlaugsson : guitar Agnar Már Magnússon : piano
“A call from under the covers” – Release concert at Reykjavík Jazz 2021 The bass player/composer Tómas R. Einarsson will release a new record in August, including compositions he has written to poems of different poets. Einarsson has released various records with singers, but here the focus is on love and melancholy. The music includes many boleros and ballads as well as some more danceable Latin tunes. For this record Einarsson assembled a stellar cast; the singer Ragnhildur Gísladóttir, one of the most popular Icelandic singers for the last 40 years, guitarist Ómar Guðjónsson, pianist Davíð Þór Jónsson and drummer Magnús Trygvason Elíassen. Ómar, Davíð and Magnús are known as solo artists, members of the ADHD Quartet and performers / composers in the critically acclaimed film Woman at war. The title of the record, A call from under the covers, is from a poem by Kristín Svava Tómasdóttir (b. 1985). Ragnhildur Gísladóttir : voice Tómas R. Einarsson : double bass Ómar Guðjónsson : guitar Davíð Þór Jónsson : piano Magnús Trygvason Eliassen : drums / percussion
Two unusual trios performing at the same time, taking turns and feeding off each other. Two wind players, two guitarists and two percussionists venture on untrodden paths with a curious combo. Will they be fencing, playing a call and response or embracing passionately? Are these maybe three duos? This will be revealed at the Reykjavík Jazz Festival. The music is written by the members of the two trios who have been at the forefront of the Icelandic jazz scene for many years and lead their own projects as well as being busy sidemen. Ari Bragi Kárason : trumpet Jóel Pálsson : saxophone Hilmar Jensson : guitar Guðmundur Pétursson : guitar Magnús Tryggvason Eliassen : percussion Matthías MD Hemstock : percussion
Known for her soulful funk and pop music, powerful live performances and vocals you don’t want to mess with, Una Stef first appeared on the Icelandic music scene in 2014 with her debut album ‘Songbook’. Since then, she has been a regular at the top radio charts, performing her own music and working with many of Iceland’s finest musicians. After years of working together; Una and her band finally made it official: they are now an item. In 2018 ‘Una Stef & the SP74’ was born. That same year they were nominated for ‘Song of the year’ at the Icelandic Music Awards and Una as ‘Singer of the year’. Una Stef & the SP74 are festival favourites for many, as their explosive live shows have become famous for getting the unlikeliest audiences up on their feet dancing and laughing their socks off. It’s funk and fun! Una Stef : vocals / flute Daníel Helgason : guitar / keyboards Sólveig Moravék : saxophone / flute Baldur Kristjánsson : bass Sólrún Mjöll Kjartansdóttir : drums Elvar Bragi Kristjónsson : trumpet / flugelhorn
Reykjavík Jazz and Center Hotels invite you to a Jazz brunch at Jörgensen Kitchen & Bar. Book your table here! Rebekka Blöndal is one of the most promising jazz singers in Iceland. She has kept herself busy performing the last few years and with that received a well-deserved place in the Icelandic jazz scene. Her debut album is due this fall, following her newly released EP. The music is mostly written by Rebekka and the guitarist Ásgeir Ásgeirsson. Rebekka will be performing along with Ásgeir Ásgeirsson on guitar, Sigmar Þór Matthíasson on bass and Matthías Hemstock on drums.
This Danish duo seem to have the best of both worlds: a compelling live presence and carefully construted albums. They released their debut album, Knob, in March 2019. The album became the Album of the Week on the Danish national radio, and secured the duo two awards at the Danish Music Awards gala. Their live energy brought them a victory in the national jazz competition JazzKonkurrencen 2019. The music, composed by both, pianist Nikolaj Svaneborg and drummer Jonas Kardyb, is minimalistic and atmospheric. According to the duo, it was created “over the blackest of coffee in the earliest of mornings”. This performance is a part of the NORDIC JAZZ COMETS project. Nikolaj Svaneborg : Würlitzer, synthesizer, piano Jonas Kardyb : drums, percussion
Kadi Vija Key Project is a fresh and innovative jazz group built around the outstanding Finnish/Estonian jazz singer Kadi Vija. The ensemble strives for the sound that is soft but substantial, quiet but captivating, sound that stays on the listener’s mind but leaves it hungry for more. Kadi Vija’s uncommon singing style is influenced by instrumental improvised music, flowing thoughts and abstractness. Vija’s music draws from modernism, jazz and film scores. This quartet, with a refreshing instrumentation of vocals, bass clarinet, guitar and drums, released their debut album Roaming In The Contemporary Society To Make Peace With It in May 2020. This performance is a part of the NORDIC JAZZ COMETS project. Kadi Vija : vocals Max Zenger : bass clarinet Tuomo Dahlblom : guitar Tuomas Timonen : drums
The act of listening–truly listening–is an intimate action. „Akroasis“,a term used by the Ancient Greeks to describe deeply listening to the world, as opposed to just looking at it, is the foundation of The PolyHarmonic Ensemble which explores natural ratios found in various aspects of nature, society, and culture, and translates them to melodies, improvisations, and innovative harmonic landscapes. Led by local resident for a few years now, Phil Doyle (US), this project is part of over a decade long study of Harmonics, ratio and proportion, via mentor Drew Lesso, a former pupil of Karlheinz Stockhausen. The group comprises not only some of the finest musicians in Iceland (Einar Scheving, Eyþór Gunnarsson, Hilmar Jensson, Óskar Guðjónsson, Snorri Sigurðarson, Tómas Jónsson), but also a Grammy award winning sound engineer, Chris Palowitch, and features the visual work of filmographer, Andri Thor Birgisson. Not only will you hear the unique creativity of the individual players, you will literally hear the sound of volcanoes, population data, mountains and more. This will be the world premiere of the ensemble which, in all seriousness, is easily one of the most artistic group of musicians Phil Doyle has ever assembled. Phil Doyle (US) : saxophone / electronic […]
Saxophone virtuoso Melissa Aldana will perform with her quartet at Reykjavík Jazz in Harpa – Norðurljós on September 4th. She will be accompanied by Pablo Menares on bass, Kush Abadey on drums and Lage Lund on guitar. On her first jazz quartet “Visions”, award-winning saxophonist Melissa Aldana connects her work to the legacy of Latina artists who have come before her, creating a pathway for her own expression. Inspired by the life and works of Frida Kahlo, Aldana creates a parallel between her experiences as a female saxophone player in a male-dominated community, and Kahlo’s experiences as a female visual artist working to assert herself in a landscape dominated by men. On her first jazz quartet recording, Aldana adds a new dimension to her sound, resulting in a transformative movement of expression and self-identity. Aldana was born in Santiago, Chile. She began playing the saxophone when she was six, under the influence and tuition of her father Marcos Aldana, also a professional saxophonist. Aldana began with alto, influenced by artists such as Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Michael Brecker. However, upon first hearing the music of Sonny Rollins, she switched to tenor; the first tenor saxophone she used was a […]
The final concert of Reykjavík Jazz 2021 will be something else! For the 2021 Reykjavík Jazz Festival, Los Bomboneros will showcase a full scale latin bigband under the baton of conductor, trombonist and violinist Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir, featuring the band’s arrangements of classic bigband hits from South and Central America and of brand new tunes by guitarist Daniel Helgason. For the past few years, Los Bomboneros (Sigrún – trombone and violin, Daníel – guitar and tres, Kristofer – percussion, Alexandra – bass and vocals) have added flavour and spice to the Icelandic music scene with their authentic approach to afro-latin music styles. The band has twice performed in bigband uniform at The Reykjavík Big Band’s annual Bigband Marathon, but now invites you to a loud salsa and cumbia party in the Harpa Music Hall. A fun-loving and boisterous show is to be expected and guests are encouraged not to hold back from any hip rotations or shouts of delight. This is one party you do not want to miss. LOS BOMBONEROS Y SUS BOMBASTICOS – PERFORMERS: Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir : conductor Daníel Helgason : guitar / tres Alexandra Kjeld : bass / vocals Kristofer Rodriguez Svönuson : percussion Magnús Trygvason […]
Classical Magic of Eastern Europe Today’s Icelanders are usually connected to the region of Central- and Eastern Europe through many personal connections because of their work, holidays, families, studies and friends. So did the Icelanders in the recent centuries. Furthermore, the musical and cultural heritage of the Central-Europe has played a surprisingly big role in the cultural life and musical education of Iceland. Great composers, choir and orchestral conductors such as Franz Mixa, Peter Urbantschitsch and Carl Billich are highlighting the strong connection between the two regions. In this concert we focus on the roots of the musical culture of Central-Europe. Our program consists of songs, arias, cello and piano pieces, duos, trios and folk music from Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Poland and Russia. The pieces were written by great and well-known classical composers such as Dvorak, Strauss, Chopin, Liszt and Rachmaninov but also less-known and very special composers like Anton Benda and Jan Kritek Vanhal. Performers: Bernadett Hegyi, Hungarian coloratura soprano. She is one of the greatest new talents in classical singing, with her astonishingly high acrobatic notes. Together with Márton Wirth, she formed the ensemble Opera2gether. Márton Wirth, composer and conductor. Organist at Landakotskirkja and a conductor of Skátakórinn, also going […]
Iceland Airwaves Festival is the world’s most northerly music showcase and industry festival, situated halfway between North America and Europe. Iceland Airwaves brings together the country’s brightest emerging musical talent and forward-thinking international acts. Each November for four days and nights, downtown Reykjavík comes alive, filled non-stop with music, with performances hosted everywhere from tiny record stores and art museums, to cool bars and stately churches, to nightclubs and large scale venues. Lineup so far: ADHD – Andavald – Andy Svarthol – Any Other – Aragrúi – Arlo Parks – Aron Can – Ásta – Axel Flóvent – Balming Tiger – Bartees Strange – Benni Hemm Hemm – Black Pumas – BSÍ – Bríet – Cell7 – CHLOBOCOP – Countess Malaise – Crack Cloud – Daði Freyr – Daughters of Reykjavík – Denise Chaila – dj. flugvél og geimskip – Dry Cleaning – Eydís Evensen – Faux Real – Francis of Delirium – GDRN – GRÓA – gugusar – Halldór Eldjárn – Hipsumhaps – Holdgervlar – Inspector Spacetime – ISÁK – Júníus Meyvant – Kælan Mikla – KAMARA – Karina – kef LAVÍK – KeiyaA – Kiriyama Family – KLEIN – K.óla – Kristin Sesselja – Krummi – Laufey – […]