bio

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

Instagram

tour

Upcoming dates

Past dates

Want to hear more of Maridalen? Help spreading the word by telling your local club or festival! :-)