Jazz Out of Norway: 12th Set 2026

Jazz Out Of Norway is a collection on Odin Records that compiles tracks drawn from some of the most emblematic albums released in Norway since 1989. The 12th Set is a valuable document that takes stock of the situation in 2026.

This edition is remarkable for its musicality, its diversity of styles, but also for the sequencing of the 36 tracks (almost three hours), which highlights each one within the setting created by the tracks surrounding it. The booklet, 79 pages, contains an essay by Filip Roshauw, co-editor-in-chief of the Jazznytt magazine, which can be downloaded from the website dedicated to this collection. With great skill and accuracy, Roshauw places today's Norwegian jazz in its historical context, but above all within three specific dimensions that are key to its originality: geographical, social, and cultural. The essay is followed by two carefully crafted pages devoted to each ensemble.

It features tracks and albums highlighted by AAJ over the past year ("Kong Kokong" from Music for a Noisy Environment by Babies On Airplanes; "Darkness" from Entrance by Nicolas Leirtrø's Action Now!; "Contemplation" from Reconnection by the Tuva Halse Quintet).

Having to shine a light here on only a small portion of the tracks is an impossible yet necessary choice: all the ensembles are top-notch. The diversity and inspiration of the saxophonists are particularly well highlighted, including the Sverre Sæbø Quintet (discovered at Moldejazz 2026), Mats Gustafsson (breathtaking on "Darkness"), Aksel Røed ("Fader War," by Knut Kristiansen), Heidi Kvelvane and Eirik Hegdal ("Dizzy Dadda Pt. 2," astounding in Emil Bø's Not Normal band), Amalie Dahl (in superb form on "Ridenuos," by Treen), Kristoffer Berre Alberts ("A Keen Beast," by Zanussi 3), and Kika Sprangers ("Encore," by Beiggja).

The fringes of jazz are well represented too, on the world, folk, fantasy and rock sides: standing out here are Henriette Eilertsen's frenzied flute ("Kulturistik Inngang"), Alf Wilhelm Lundberg's guitar ("Friends"), Avian Art ("A Ripple Song"), Building Instrument ("Hand/Vindfang"), and Emil Storløkken Åse's PHØNIX ("Dancing on Mercury").

Facing the torrent offered by the latter are the serene moments of Kjetil Husebø and Kjetil Mulelid's pianos ("Listening to Life," "Memorable Stories") and Tuva Halse's  baroque violin ("Contemplation").

Vocal music is a major component of, if not a key to, Scandinavian jazz. The selection brings out the originality of the voices of Mariam Wallentin ("Basel") and Ingeborg Gravem Sollid ("The Frozen Rose"), discovered by AAJ on The Aftermath and featured here in Jenny Frøysa's Artful Ensemble.

If one is looking for a single (double) album of Norwegian jazz to discover what has been made in Norway in 2026, this one is definitely the desert island pick.