Final Descent X Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Join us for three days of adventurous sounds and a myirad of different expressions, when we dive deep into the world of improvisation, at the iconic venue Mayhem, during Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2024.
Here you will witness folk, jazz, free-improvisation, electronic ambient, harsh noise and neo-classical music merge in new exciting ways, from a diverse range of performers with different geographical and artistic backgrounds.
100 dkr pr day, or 200 dkr for all 3 days.
Lineup:
7. juli: Lao Dan老丹 meets Maria Bertel (cn/dk) + Køs (dk)
8. juli: Jooklo Duo (it) + Lao Dan老丹 (cn) + Hey Nana, I'm Halym (dk)
9. juli: Røysum/Aardestrup/Jørgens Trio (no/dk) + Smuk Zvuk (dk/cz)
Doors: 19.30
First show: 20.00
Lao Dan老丹 (cn)
Lao Dan老丹 (cn)
Lao Dan, a pioneering force in Chinese experimental jazz, marries the ancient melodies of his homeland with the daring improvisation of jazz. Mastering the suona, a traditional Chinese wind instrument, he embarked on a journey to blend two worlds. His music is a mesmerizing fusion, weaving together centuries-old Chinese traditions with the bold experimentation of jazz. Lao Dan's compositions are a cultural bridge, inviting audiences worldwide to experience the harmonious dialogue between tradition and modernity. As a global ambassador of Chinese heritage, his performances transcend borders, captivating with intricate rhythms and soulful melodies. Lao Dan stands as a symbol of cultural exchange and artistic innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the world of jazz.
Lao Dan is the Final Descent Artist in Residence for the Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2024, supported by the SC Van Foundation and Old Heaven Books. Thanks!
Maria Bertel (dk)
Maria Bertel Is a danish trombone player, improviser and composer. The acoustic sound of her instrument amplified creates an output that draws inspiration from drone and noise music. What is normally not hearable is presenting itself, movements, metal and breath becomes a swirling part of her compositions. Changing organic patterns are emerging, tiny sounds become brutally clear as well as the range of overtones of the instrument.
She is one of five co-founders of the Copenhagen based art collective eget værelse founded in 2010.
Apart from her work as a solo artist she performs and composes in groups like the notorious four piece noise rock band Selvhenter and Nina Garcia & Maria Bertel duo improvised noise outfit
She has presented her music in various festivals like LUFF (CH) Summer Bummer (BE) Flow Festival (FL) Supersonic Festival (UK) Raw Power festival (UK) Sonic Protest (FR) Gong Tomorrow (DK) Borealis (NO) OFF festival B-sides festival (CH) Meteo festival (FR)
Køs (dk)
Three musical siblings from Copenhagen underground unites as Køs to show their common love for big expressive emotions and smaller, almost naked sounds. Acoustic instruments meets digital sampling and analog proccessing live on stage.
Since 2014 they've joined forces to showcase their forward looking mixture of free improvisation, jazz, hip hop, classical music, ambient and noise. Soundscapes constructed in the now with long form development, blissful(almost religious) melodies, repetive rhytmic structures, huge walls of sound and ever-changing dynamic fluctuations.
In may 2017 the debut EP ’KØS’ came out as free download/stream via: bandkoes.bandcamp.com featuring strictly acoustic instruments in a non-strict environment. Since then, they have made waves in the danish experimental music scene with their full length An Uncaught Bird from 2020, elegantly merging free improvisation and electronic ambient music, as well as the collaborative effort Ud af en Mund with danish poet Pia Tafdrup, released on Barefoot Records in 2021.
Jooklo Duo (it)
Blowing minds all over the world since 2004 with hundreds of charming performances and some cult records, Jooklo Duo (Virginia Genta on reeds, flutes, piano, percussion and David Vanzan on drums) keeps spreading their powerful and uniquely vibrant sound, deeply rooted in free jazz avant-garde but heavily influenced by traditional folk music, and at the same time open to extreme sound experiments.
Over the years the perpetual research for new and challenging combinations has led Genta and Vanzan to form a large variety of ensembles and to collaborate with artists as Bill Nace, Chris Corsano, Thurston Moore, Dror Feiler, Dylan Nyoukis, Hartmut Geerken, Stanley J. Zappa, Makoto Kawabata, Mette Rasmussen, and many others. The duo has also been working with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company alongside John Paul Jones and Takehisa Kosugi, performing for “Nearly Ninety” in main theatres in Madrid and London, and has been a long-time favorite of emblematic figures such as Henry Rollins, WFMU radio, Wire, etc…
Prepare for a spiritual trip to the furthest corners of free improvisation when Jooklo Duo finally returns to Copenhagen.
Lao Dan老丹 meets Jooklo Duo (cn/it)
Lao Dan, a pioneering force in Chinese experimental jazz, marries the ancient melodies of his homeland with the daring improvisation of jazz. Mastering the suona, a traditional Chinese wind instrument, he embarked on a journey to blend two worlds. His music is a mesmerizing fusion, weaving together centuries-old Chinese traditions with the bold experimentation of jazz. Lao Dan's compositions are a cultural bridge, inviting audiences worldwide to experience the harmonious dialogue between tradition and modernity. As a global ambassador of Chinese heritage, his performances transcend borders, captivating with intricate rhythms and soulful melodies. Lao Dan stands as a symbol of cultural exchange and artistic innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the world of jazz.
Lao Dan and Jooklo Duo released the tape 'Ze Ze The Milky Way' in 2021 through Old Heaven Books - a live recording of their first collaborative encounter, captured at the Shenzhen OctLoft Jazz Festival in 2018. The release showcases a dynamic meeting between three highly skilled improvisers transcending genres, moving from funk, blues, and fiery jazz, all within the realm of free improvisation.
Lao Dan is the Final Descent Artist in Residence for the Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2024, supported by the SC Van Foundation and Old Heaven Books. Thanks!
Hey Nana, I'm Halym (de/kr/dk)
"Hey Nana, I'm Halym" marks the collaborative venture between saxophonist Nana Pi Aabo-Kim and drummer Halym Aabo-Kim, hailing from Copenhagen. Within this duo format, Nana and Halym immerse themselves in a spectrum of sonic exploration, ranging from extended and traditional techniques to tonal and atonal melodies, alongside rhythmic and a-rhythmic patterns. Their music, characterized by improvisation, delves into themes of tension and relaxation, texture and sound, as well as musical action and non-action...
Nana Pi Aabo-Kim, a saxophonist, composer, and conductor from Copenhagen, is a prominent figure within the experimental jazz scene. She has honed her distinctive expressive palette on the saxophone, utilizing objects and extended techniques. Notably, she conducts improvisation through her musical sign language "Extemporize," earning her the esteemed P8 Jazz Prize "Årets Ildsjæl" in 2020.
Halym Kim, a German/Korean drummer and composer based in Copenhagen, navigates the fusion of traditional Korean music elements into modern experimental music realms. His active presence within the Copenhagen experimental music scene extends to performances within traditional korean music, free improvisation, and fiery free-jazz, showcasing his diverse musical fluency.
Røysum / Aardestrup / Jørgens Trio (no/dk)
Andreas and Jonathan first met in 2016 and have enjoyed playing together many times since. In the meantime, Peter Ole and Jonathan have joined forces as a duo and have played with a number of international musicians in the past year. Therefore, it is perfect to unite with Andreas for a tour in Denmark in July.
All three are experienced improvisers, with a great love for music from all over the world and an unwavering desire to express it on their instruments. Expect everything from quiet atmospheric soundscapes to devotional, groovy hypnotic explorations in the realm of free improvisation.
Andreas Røysum: Clarinet og bass clarinet
Jonathan Aardestrup: double bass
Peter Ole Jørgens: drums
Andreas Røysum (no)
The young talented Norwegian clarinetist Andreas Røysum is one of the most active improvisers of his generation. He has his own ensemble that plays a wide range of spiritual and free jazz, which, like his own playing, also incorporates folk music from the Nordic countries, Bali, Africa, and India. He plays in bands such as Miman, Marthe Lea Band, and many others. An indefatigable organizer, political activist, and - above all - musician.
He also collaborates with some of the biggest names in improvisational music including John Edwards, Mats Gustafson, Axel Dörner, Kresten Osgood, and Tobias Delius.
P.O. Jørgens (dk)
Peter Ole Jørgensen - aka P.O. Jørgens and Pere Oliver Jørgens - began working with John Tchicai in 1974. He has been a central figure in the freeform/improv scene for 40 years, both as an extremely creative drummer and producer. He has defined Danish improvised drumming for more than 40 years and released a stream of albums on his own legendary label Ninth World Music.
Among others, he has recorded and performed with Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, David Thomas, Phil Minton, Axel Dörner, Fred Frith, John Tchicai, Zëv, Frank Lowe, Mikolaj Trzaska, Paul Rutherford, Alan Silva, Fred Lonberg Holm, Marylin Crispell, Johannes Bauer, John Dikeman, Tim Hodgkinson, David Moss, Carlos Zingaro, Michel Godard, Peter Jacquemyn, Thomas Lehn & Sirone amo.
Jonathan Aardestrup (dk)
Composer and double bassist from Copenhagen who has been an active participant in the music scene for more than 20 years, where he has played with the rap group Sort Stue at the Roskilde festival '07, toured internationally, alone and with various groups, and also been responsible for a number of releases of original music.
Currently, he is active with the group The Way Out, which also includes TS Høeg, as well as a wide portfolio of collaborations with Makoto Sato, Siv Øyunn, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Anders Vestergaard, Signe Emmeluth, Laura Toxværd, Christian Balvig, Niels Mestre, Quentin Roullet, Mads Egetoft, Paul Wacrenier, Szymon Pimpon, Andreas Røysum, Maria Dybbroe, etc.
Smuk Zvuk (dk/cz)
Smuk Zvuk comprises two young musicians who crossed paths during their time in the Erasmus program in Paris. Their unique blend of vibraphone and double bass presents its share of creative challenges.
Despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered their exploration of the Parisian jazz scene, the duo found solace in deepening their connection through intimate musical exchanges. Klára and Viktoria spent their days delving into jazz standards, sharing original compositions, and engaging in free improvisation.
Outside of Smuk Zvuk, both musicians pursue individual projects—Viktoria Holde Søndergaard with "Baryl" and Klára Pudláková with "Uthando" and "Pudlax"—actively contributing to the Danish and Czech jazz communities.
Smuk Zvuk means "beautiful sound" and is a mix of the Danish word Suk, beautiful, and the Czech word Zvuk, which means sound.
Viktoria Holde Søndergaard: Vibraphone
Klára Pudláková: Double bass