“I believe I just witnessed the future of live dance music” 
- Pips (Petty Nobles Collective)

“Where on earth did this material come from ?” 
- Jay Ruttenberg (The Lowbrow Reader)

These 7 musicians, with their unique instrumentation and unorthodox arrangements create a very danceable yet at times puzzling concert. Catchy melodies and chant like lyrics can haunt you for days: “You are not a primate, you are not Maharishi either, but in between there is someone called yourself”.

Hess Is More started out as an electronic solo project for Danish musician Mikkel Hess. Through 6 albums and various tours and collaborations the project has developed into a full blown Transatlantic Live Music Ensemble, working with a more collective approach. Their latest release “Bearsong / Primate” (Gomma Records) was written and arranged during the group’s residency at Clocktower Gallery in downtown New York. The recordings are a celebration of the energy and interplay of the live ensemble – sounding in the borderland between electronic dance music, afrobeat, krautrock and jazz.

– The ensemble has performed at a long list of international festivals and venues, including concerts in Sao Paolo, Montreal, Istanbul, Moscow, Copenhagen, New York.

– Hess Is More has over the years received various awards and nominations, including “Danish Music Award Jazz” and a selection into “Top 10 best music of the year” by Time Out Magazine New York. Most recently Hess Is More was selected into “Top 10 live acts of 2014” by GlitterballNYC.

– Brothers Nikolaj and Mikkel Hess received the main prize “Album of the year” at The Danish Music Awards Jazz 2014 for their release “Music For Mum and Dad” with the group 3 x Hess (Yes, with their third brother Emil Hess!)

– Band leader Mikkel Hess is also a prolific composer for film and theatre. Latest feature film score “When Animals Dream” was nominated twice as “Best Score of 2014”, by the Danish Film Academy / Robert Awards and by Carl Prisen.

Just like her music, Anna Scharling’s voice is a pliable instrument. The Danish singer-songwriter hits emotive heights that sound downright angelic, but still she is completely earth-bound with a touch of grit behind the sweet tone and sour lyrics.
Her style reminds of a new Nordic interpretation of what is known as typical American folk song tradition, embracing you with lyrics you’ll be glad to listen to and that are worth being discovered.

She released her debut EP in Nov. 2015, which was well received by reviewers and the audience. Sep. 2016 she’ll follow up with her debut album, both recorded and produced with the award winning swedish multi-instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren in his Copenhagen studio.

“But not only Anna’s voice and vocal volume are compelling. What makes her so special is her ability to tell stories in an original way while boasting of character. Full of strong melodies and defined rhythms she invites us to follow her while telling us the story about the people in her songs“ – Good Because Danish

Anna Scharling comes across as a storyteller as much as a musician, and with generally bare instrumentations, there’s an intimacy and unspoilt sound to her songs. Soft-spoken but precise, quiet but strong, clear but full of emotions.

Formed in 2013 by Gustav Rasmussen and Michael Blicher, things have happened quickly for the 6-piece afro-beat/souljazz band based in Copenhagen. Taking their musical inspiration from the soul of Fela Kuti, the delusional arrangements of Charles Mingus, and their own European backgrounds fused into a new sound, The KutiMangoes started a unique collaboration with Burkina Faso vocalist Patrick Kabré and signed with legendary German funk/afro-beat label Tramp Records.

Their subsequent debut release Afro-Fire received international critical acclaim and radio airplay on BBC, Bayerische Rundfunk (DE), FM4 (AU), Radio X (DE), WNYU Radio (US) and many others. The album has received 5 Danish Grammy nominations, winning “BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM” and “BEST WORLD MUSIC TRACK”. After their concert at Burkina Fasos Jazz à Ouaga festival, artistic director Abdulaye Diallo said:

“A rarely succesful unification of African and European music – fantastic!”

In may 2016 they will be returning to Western Africa to tour and record their follow-up album in Burkina Faso and Mali.

The KutiMangoes have toured Northern Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East as well as their home country, having performed at prestigious festivals such as: Reeperbahn Festival (DE), Jarasum Int. Jazz Festival (Korea), Copenhagen Jazz Festival (DK), OCT-Loft Festival (C), Reykjavik Jazz Festival (I).

KutiMangoes are:
Michael Blicher // saxophones and flute
Gustav Rasmussen // trombones and guitar
Aske Drasbæk // saxophones
Johannes Buhl Andresen // fender rhodes and moog bass
Morten Ærø // drums
Casper Mikkelsen // percussion

Great music tells stories and transports you to another world.  Life has given this American bassist and vocalist a passion for stories and the music that carries them. Kristin Korb was originally discovered and mentored by the great bassist Ray Brown.  Her other associations and musical collaborators have included jazz greats Jeff Hamilton, Bruce Forman, Russell Ferrante and Bob Mintzer.

Love ultimately brought Kristin to Denmark in 2011.  The new adventures that came with the move inspired Kristin’s seventh CD.  Finding Home features Kristin’s stories of love, travel, language lessons and the peace she has found in her marriage and her adopted country.  In addition to her original material, the project features some of Denmark’s finest musicians:  Magnus Hjorth (piano), Snorre Kirk (drums), Jacob Fischer (guitar), Gerard Presencer (trumpet), Steen Nikolaj Hansen (trombone), Karl-Martin Almqvist (tenor sax) and Danish rock guitar legend Poul Halberg. Many of them, coincidentally, happen to also be expats (Norway, Sweden and England).  Their shared relocation experiences bring extra feeling and expression to the tracks.
Since moving from Los Angeles to Denmark in 2011, Kristin has quickly become known across Europe for her deep sense of swing, engaging stories, and crystalline voice.  Kristin exudes a pure musical joy that is contagious with both her fellow musicians and audiences. Critics call her “exhilarating”. She sings without any extra effects and coordinates her singing and bass playing in a manner that make everything seem only easy and fun. Joining Kristin on the stage are her award-winning band mates Magnus Hjorth (piano) and Snorre Kirk (drums).

The Kristin Korb Trio is:
Kristin Korb – bass & vocals
Magnus Hjorth – piano
Snorre Kirk – drums

The authentic style of modern klezmer and Nordic soundscapes

Quotes:
“Mames Babegenush forges an organic sound with the momentum of life. The band pushes the perimeter of klezmer to incorporate many cultures, all fragrant with fecund growth and potential. This is joyous music even when it is not.”
C. Michael Bailey, All About Jazz

“It is truly a feast for the hungry klezmer fan. Expanding the boundaries of traditional Jewish music.”
Tom Newell, Songlines

“Mames Babegenush is melding the vital, vibrant heart of the klezmer – it’s imaginative, moving and brassily abrupt.”
John Pheby, fROOTS

“Mames Babegenush has hit upon a winning combination of artistry and originality while simultaneously being faithful to the tradition and pushing the genre forward.”
Keith Wolzinger, KlezmerPodcast

Mames Babegenush is the past world meeting the present. It is Jewish dance music united with new waves of modern music: a fresh blend of music genres that appeals to both the heart and the feet.

Formed in 2004 the six-piece ensemble quickly dazzled audiences as well as critics with their fresh sound and musical gumption. The group spent years to perfect the style of traditional Jewish dance music, but always insisted on leaving their personal mark in contemporary klezmer. Live on stage, Mames Babegenush is a unique acquaintance, who unfolds a dynamic universe never
seen before. In 2008 David Krakauer, Alicia Svigals, Michael Alpert and Josh Dolgin (So-Called) selected Mames Babegenush to the Carnegie Hall Young Artist Program. The following year the band released their acclaimed debut ‘Klezmer Killed The Radio Star’ which landed a nomination at the Danish Music Award.

In 2010 the ensemble experienced a career highlight when they participated in the 2nd International Jewish Music Competition in Amsterdam. As the only ensemble, it was the winner of three prizes – the Jury’s Special Prize for cultural bridge building in music, the Booker’s Prize and the biggest prize of them all; The Audience Prize for best live performance.

In 2014 Mames Babegenush released their fourth album forging their strong Scandinavian roots into the vibrant dance music of Eastern Europe. From the ambience of Nordic pine trees to a lively wedding in Romania this album gives the listener a sense of both melancholy and ecstatic joy. The milestone record represents a new path in their sound integrating string quartet, harp and children’s choir into their musical universe. The album received two nominations for the Danish Music Awards 2015.

The group is currently touring and working on new material.

Throughout their career Mames Babegenush has played some of the most storied venues and festivals worldwide, ex: Carnegie Hall (US), The Royal Danish Theatre, Chicago World Music Festival (US), Roskilde Festival (DK), The Danish Radio House, Tønder Festivalen (DK), NY Gypsy Festival (US), KlezFiesta (AR), Bergen International Festival (NO), POPKOMM (GER), KlezMore (AT), Yiddish Heritage Festival (RO), Fürth Festival (GER) and Paradiso (NL).