Trondheim Jazz Orchestra with Jason Moran

The components together form a mass, a cohesive entity that becomes an emulsion of all these elements. Jason Moran is one of these musicians. This year, he will perform in a solo format on Tuesday, July 15, at 12:00 PM in Rådhussalen, and in collaboration with this year’s Artist in Residence, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, on Monday, July 14, at 7:00 PM at Teatret Vårt.

Many familiar with Moldejazz know of Moran’s long history with the festival. As a young and promising musician, he first appeared with the Jason Moran Trio in 2003, and a few years later as the pianist in legendary ensembles such as Molde favorite Charles Lloyd’s quartet in 2008 and the Dave Holland Overtone Quartet in 2011.

Ten years after his Moldejazz debut, Moran served as Artist in Residence, showcasing the undeniable breadth and depth of his artistry, which continues to define his extraordinary career.

This manifested through collaborations such as a duo with Jan Bang, a solo concert, the opening concert In My Mind inspired by his hero Thelonious Monk, a church performance featuring his wife, classical mezzo-soprano Alicia Hall Moran, and the initiation of a duo project with Charles Lloyd, which has truly taken flight. And not least, it marked the beginning of many collaborations with the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.

The most recent collaboration with Jason Moran was a project developed and presented during the Oslo Jazz Festival in 2022, recorded at Rainbow Studio the following year, and performed again at Nasjonal Jazzscene Victoria later that same year. This release is planned for 2025. Adding to this is the beautiful association that is TJO+Moran will be at its fullest during Moldejazz 2025.

Read more about this collaboration below, and don’t miss the chance to revisit Moran and Lloyd’s memorable performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert!

Jason Moran has been one of the most influential musical voices in the U.S. over the past 20 years, known for his work with The Bandwagon trio as well as for his forward-thinking and conceptual approach as a composer, curator, and artist. His presence is as natural at MoMA and the Whitney Museum as it is at the Village Vanguard, and he has collaborated with numerous icons such as Charles Lloyd, Henry Threadgill, and art legend Joan Jonas.

Since its inception in 2000, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra has established itself as one of Norway and Europe’s leading ensembles for improvised music. It has collaborated with international musicians like Joshua Redman, Anna Webber, and Chick Corea, while also serving as a platform for young Norwegian composers such as Eirik Hegdal, Anja Lauvdal, Heida Mobeck, Erlend Skomsvoll, and Signe Emmeluth. The orchestra advocates a flat structure where the musicians significantly influence the music, and its members are handpicked specifically for each project.

The artistic director of Trondheim Jazz Orchestra is Ole Morten Vågan, one of Norway’s most active bassists and musicians. Vågan has been involved with TJO since 2002 and has served as its artistic leader since 2017. His first collaboration with Jason Moran was during Moran’s tenure as Artist in Residence at Moldejazz in 2013. For this project, Vågan arranges Moran’s music for a star lineup of musicians handpicked for the occasion. In December 2023, TJO and Jason Moran recorded music at Rainbow Studio, with a release planned for 2025.

Jason Moran – Piano

Sofia Jernberg – Voice

Henriette Eilertsen – Flute

Mette Rasmussen – Alto Saxophone

Jonas Kullhammar – Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Karl Hjalmar Nyberg – Tenor Saxophone

Eirik Hegdal – Baritone Saxophone

Eivind Lønning – Trumpet

Josefin Runsteen – Violin, Viola

Hans Hulbækmo – Drums

Ole Morten Vågan – Bass, Arrangements

Anja Lauvdal – Synth/Electronics

Daniel Herskedal – Tuba

Joel Ring – Cello, Bass

Ingar Hunskaar – Sound Engineer