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Two sold out concerts at Oslojazz!
With two sold out concerts at this years Oslo Jazz Festival Maridalen finally held their long wanted release concerts for their third album Gressholmen. And what better place to have the concerts than on the island where the album was recorded. An amazing night bringing both the trio and the guests Emil Brattested (pedal-steel guitar) and Erland Dahlen (percussion) – who also contributed on the record – together. Watch live video here!
«Idyllic and seductive. An extended Maridalen touches strongly through soft inquiry.» – ★★★★★ Arild R. Andersen, Aftenposten
«It sounds phenomenally good.» – Arild Rønsen, Puls.no
New album out now!
New album recorded at the island Gressholmen
With new songs and ideas for a new album Maridalen sat sail for the island Gressholmen in the Oslo fjord in the middle of April 2023. In a small wooden cabin owned by the The Norwegian Trekking Association the trio recorded their third album.
With the second album «Bortenfor» they musically moved further away from the valley to a more urban environment. Now Maridalen has set out to sea and ashore on the small island just outside the Oslo harbour.
Combining the sounds of water, wooden cracklings and birds with their own unique trio sound they also invited special guests Emil Brattested on pedal-steel guitar and Erland Dahlen on percussion with them to the island.
«Adorable Maridalen: Idyllic jazz with melodic warmth»
— Dagsavisen, Norway, April 2024 Read full review
«The sound of the Oslo fjord»
— Audun Vinger, Dagens Næringsliv, Norway, April 2024 Read full review
«Ein großartiges Album, wir sind begeistert!»
— Jazz-fun.de, Germany, April 2024 Read full review
«Mit ihrer Klangästhetik und ihrer tiefen Emotionalität setzen Maridalen neue Maßstäbe»
★★★★ — inMusic, Germany, April 2024
«The Best Jazz Records 2022»
— Dagsavisen, Norway, December 2022 Read full review
«Most charming trio in the Country»
★★★★★ — Arild R. Andersen, Aftenposten, Norway, March 2022 Read full review
«Jazz Albums of the Year»
— MOJO magazine, UK, 2021
Das Album der Woche
— Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Germany, March 2022
videos
★★★★☆– MOJO Music Magazine (UK)
★★★★★ – BBC Music Magazine (UK)
reviews
Photo: Vidar Ruud
Photo: Jørgen Nordby
The Norwegian jazz trio Maridalen takes its name from the scenic valley that lies just north of Oslo city center. The trio's debut album «Maridalen» (2021) has received rave reviews both nationally and internationally. The album, among many other plaudits, was listed on the lists "Best Norwegian albums of the Year" in Aftenposten, and "Jazz albums of the Year" in British MOJO Magazine.
What initially started as an opportunity to practice together gradually evolved into the Maridalen project. The three members found their tone in the warm harmony of double bass, trumpet and woodwind, completely without chordal instruments. In addition, they also discovered a common predilection for Swedish jazz, minimalist film music and French Impressionism. From there, the trio has developed their own musical space that both captures different mood moments and creates small stories.
Their second album «Bortenfor» (2022) on Jazzland Recordings was named "Album der Woche" on German radio WDR and "The best jazz records in 2022" in Norwegian Dagsavisen. Like its predecessor, this album is also recorded in the old wooden church in Maridalen, but this time the trio also moves a little beyond the valley - down to night-lit streets and old apartment buildings. The trio also rounds out the sound with contributions from piano, an old radio and kitchen utensils, with the addition of pedal steel guitarist Emil Brattested.
With the warm and acoustic sound of double bass, trumpet and woodwind, the trio creates their own musical space that captures different moods and spins small stories.
Through these moments, the listener is invited to new adventures; from a city gateway, old and forgotten places are explored: through pictures from a movie, to a ride on a moon bike in dreamland.
The moods and stories are conveyed through a strong collective where the sum is greater than the individual performances - where the space, atmosphere and excitement become an inextricable part of the whole. The soundscape is intimate, transparent, and provides great opportunity and plenty of space for the three musicians to play.
Maridalen has made a name on the national and international jazz scene with performance highlights at festivals such as Oslo Jazz Festival, Nordic Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, Ora Jazz Festival in Romania, Aberdeen Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival.
On April 5th 2024, they released their third album «Gressholmen» – this time recorded in a cabin on the island Gressholmen in the fjord of Oslo.
Anders Hefre – saxophones, clarinet
Jonas Kilmork Vemøy – trumpet
Andreas Rødland Haga – double bass
music
Gressholmen
Released on April 5th 2024
Recorded and mixed by Aleksander Sjølie in the cabin “Styrbord” on the island Gressholmen in the fjord of Oslo.
Mastered by Morgan Nicolaysen
Label: Jazzland Recordings
Anders Hefre – saxophone, clarinet, flute
Jonas Kilmork Vemøy – trumpet
Andreas Rødland Haga – double bass
Guests:
Emil Brattested – pedal steel guitar
Erland Dahlen – percussion, saw, dulcimer
Track list:
1. Prolog
2. Innrønt
3. Fuglefangeren
4. Smeigedag
5. Landkjenning
6. Folket på berget
7. I nattens mulm og mørke
8. Mysig
9. Fattern, bruttern og jeg
10. På havets bunn
11. Lorraine
12. Dornier Do J
13. Lenger borte
Bortenfor
Released on March 25th 2022
Recorded and mixed by Aleksander Sjølie in Maridalen Church in the valley Maridalen in Oslo.
Mastered by Morgan Nicolaysen
Label: Jazzland Recordings
Anders Hefre – saxophone, clarinet
Jonas Kilmork Vemøy – trumpet
Andreas Rødland Haga – double bass
Guests:
Emil Brattested – pedal steel guitar
Aleksander Sjølie – piano
Track list:
1. På nye eventyr
2. Portrommet
3. Månesykkel
4. Der hvor vi ikke kunne gå
5. Sandermosen
6. Dørstokken
7. Silhuett
8. Bilder fra en film
9. Danse du soir
10. I havn
Maridalen
Released on April 9th 2021
Recorded in Maridalen Church in the valley Maridalen in Oslo.
Mixed by Aleksander Sjølie
Mastered by Morgan Nicolaysen
Label: Jazzland Recordings
Anders Hefre – saxophone, clarinet
Jonas Kilmork Vemøy – trumpet
Andreas Rødland Haga – double bass
Announced “Jazz Albums of the Year” in MOJO Magazine and “The Years Best” in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.
Track list:
1. Koral
2. Maridalen
3. Blir det regn i dag tru?
4. Inga
5. Svartoren
6. Midt på natten et sted
7. Russisk landsbymelodi
8. Vals fra Bjølsen
9. På gjensyn
10. Urverket