Winter is lurking in Norway, but we are keeping warm at Victoria in Oslo with an Autumn program we have been very pleased with. As per usual, we’ve had visits from near and far with established artist, up and coming bands, some classic jazz, but mostly unheard music!
First we’d like to put the spotlight on OJKOS, The Orchestra for jazz composers in Oslo, a project that has been running for six years now. This now 14 piece orchestra consist of young, often recently graduated jazz musicians and composers. Within the project, the members can freely experiment and develop their individual and collective musical vocabulary together. The band rehearse once a week at Victoria, and six times a year, one of the members publicly premieres newly-written music at Nasjonal Jazzscene. We've had some truly exciting and unique concerts in all colors of jazz; projects that have started to drip out as album releases, tours and in other shapes and forms. We are looking forward to six new premiers in the next year!
And talking about next year's program, Winter and Spring sure are bringing us treats! It's going to kick off with brand new, commissioned music from the great, improvising sax player Marthe Lea, who together with Hans P. Kjorstad, Axel Dörner and Lisa Ullén are going to give us Ode to play in January. For other things we are looking forward to before Summer, check out this short list from over 70 concerts planned!
Bill Frisell Trio, In the Country with Solveig Slettahjell & Knut Reiersrud, Becca Stevens, Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet feat. Julian Lage, Tomeka Reid Quartet, Rohey Taalah & Martin Myhre Olsen, Kris Davis Trio, Simin Tander New Quartet, Bobo Stenson Trio, John Surman Quartet, Chris Potter & Craig Taborn Duo, Jakob Bro Large Ensemble feat. Melissa Aldana and so many more!
As always, if you’re in Oslo or the near proximity, please check out our program and pay us a visit. We can guarantee a night with great music at Victoria – Nasjonal jazzscene.
With love from Oslo, Norway
Photo: OJKOS 2024 by Andreas Sætre
Photo: OJKOS 2024 by Andreas Sætre
