A true star of creative music, a leading figure in contemporary sound, Nils Petter Molvær and his group return to Athens and the Half Note Jazz Club for four performances from Friday, March 27 through Monday, March 30.
The ultimate Norwegian trumpeter, composer, and producer, Nils Petter Molvær belongs to that select group of European artists who have built international careers while maintaining a strong presence across the Atlantic. A constant pioneer, Molvær is also a veteran of a sound he largely created and evolved himself, marking over 30 years of shaping what is known as “future jazz” or “nu jazz”—especially since his landmark album Khmer (1997).
Molvær’s first encounters with the trumpet came at the age of six. His early influences included 78 rpm records of Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, followed by the sound of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Later, his musical interests briefly turned to rock, with bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. At 19, he studied trumpet for three years at the Trondheim Conservatory. At 22, after an adventurous concert invitation, he moved to Oslo and began performing with Jazzpønkensemblet and various other bands.
Soon after, alongside pianist Jon Balke and saxophonist Ture Brunborg, he was invited by renowned musicians Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen to join the Norwegian supergroup Masqualero (named after a Wayne Shorter composition). Recording for ECM, the group performed a style of post-bop and modal jazz influenced by Miles Davis’ late-1960s work. They released four albums and gained recognition across Europe.
However, Molvær’s artistic ambitions went beyond these boundaries. His solo discography began with a collaboration with American percussionist Robyn Schulkowsky, but it was Khmer, released by ECM under Manfred Eicher, that brought him worldwide acclaim. Nearly 30 years later, it remains a milestone of Northern European music. Last year, he released Khmer – Live in Bergen, which is already enjoying great success.
In addition to numerous collaborations, Molvær has released 16 solo albums and continues to headline major festivals and venues worldwide. He has worked with artists such as Bill Laswell, Manu Katché, Hector Zazou, Sidsel Endresen, Dhafer Youssef, Marilyn Mazur, Ketil Bjørnstad, and the legendary Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare, securing his place among Europe’s musical elite.
A devoted admirer of Miles Davis, as well as Jon Hassell, Don Cherry, Chet Baker, and Palle Mikkelborg, and influenced by Brian Eno as a creator, Molvær has developed a unique personal sound. His music blends atmospheric soundscapes, expressive solos, and elements of jazz, ambient, electronica, hip-hop, funk, and even rock. Many describe it as “future jazz” or “nu jazz”—others as the sound Miles Davis might have created if he were alive today. Either way, the result is captivating.
For his Athens performances at Half Note Jazz Club from March 27 to 30, Molvær will be joined by his long-time collaborators: Jo Berger Myhre (guitar & bass), Erland Dahlen (drums), and Sven Persson (sound).
Four unforgettable nights!
Line-up
- Nils Petter Molvær: Trumpet, Effects
- Jo Berger Myhre: Guitar, Bass
- Erland Dahlen: Drums
- Sven Persson: Sound
Event Venue
Half Note Jazz Club, Τριβωνιανού 17, Αθήνα 116 36, Ελλάδα, Athens, Greece
