Jazzintro 2024

Many of the country's foremost jazz musicians have participated in Jazzintro early in their careers. The launching program has become a prestigious showcase and introduction platform for young, professional musicians. The band ultimately awarded the Young Jazz Musicians of the Year 2024 title will receive not only the accolade but also a festival tour and a tailored mentorship program.

"We had a record number of applicants for Jazzintro this time, the number was nearly doubled from previous years. It was a lot of music for the jury to listen through, but most importantly, it was exciting to hear what's growing in Norwegian jazz," says project manager Aleksander Haugen.

The first round of Jazzintro takes place at Bergen Jazzforum on February 22nd. ASQ // Amund Stenøien Quartet and Schemes will perform.
On February 29th, Lightning Trio and tuvahalseband will meet at Stavanger Jazzforum.
On March 17th, SUPERSPREADER and Coincidences will perform at Dokkhuset in Trondheim.
The final preliminary round will feature Bliss Quintet and Philip Granly Trio at Victoria, Nasjonal jazzscene in Oslo on April 3rd.
The jury, consisting of prominent Norwegian jazz musicians, will send one band from each round to the final during Moldejazz. In 2024, the jury includes Ellen Brekken, Dag Arnesen, Eldbjørg Raknes, and Jakop Janssønn.

Launching package with festival tour and mentorship program
Over twenty-five years after it all began, Jazzintro has been launched in a somewhat modified version. Several partners have joined, the preliminary rounds have been moved to new venues, and the launching package and tour have received new frameworks. Five of the country's largest jazz festivals have been partners since the beginning. Now, the festival collaboration has been further expanded with several major festivals, where the Young Jazz Musicians of the Year will be featured during the 2025 festival season. As before, the Norwegian Jazz Forum will arrange a mentorship program for the Young Jazz Musicians of the Year. This program is developed in collaboration with the musicians themselves based on their wishes and needs, and may include meetings with industry professionals for an introduction to the life of a professional musician, facilitation of meeting places and networking, as well as arrangements for artistic development.

Jazzintro partners 2024:
Bergen Jazzforum, Nasjonal jazzscene, Stavanger Jazzforum, Dokkhuset Scene, Moldejazz, Nordlysfestivalen, Bodø Jazz Open, Vossa Jazz, Maijazz, Nattjazz, Kongsberg Jazzfestival, Oslo Jazzfestival, and Sildajazz. Jazzintro is supported by Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.

In explosive interplay and a dreamy, pop-like tone, Amund Stenøien has found his own sound. Rooted in modern American swing and counterpoint, Stenøien unleashes the potential inherent in a tight form through strong, singable melodies meeting intricate harmonic and rhythmic structures. With growing elements of gospel progressions and ostinatos from club music, the quartet places itself within the American jazz tradition in 2024.
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Amund Stenøien – vibraphone, compositions, Steinar Heide Bø - drums, Gard Kronborg – acoustic bass guitar, Joakim Rainer Petersen – piano

Schemes is an explosion of energy, disguised as a jazz quartet, based in Trondheim. The music is unconventional and contrasting with intricate and well-composed material, often tied together by longer improvised sections. The quartet draws inspiration from both American and European currents, with clear references to classical impressionism and today's modern jazz scenes.
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Brede Sørum – saxophone, Oliver Skou-Due – piano, Bendik Løland Lundsvoll – double bass, Veslemøy Narvesen - drums