Michala Østergaard trio

In the Rådhussalen, the Michala Østergaard Trio invites the audience into a universe where composed precision and free improvisation intertwine to create a musical space brimming with intensity, presence, and poetic power. Established in 2022 by the award-winning Danish drummer and composer Michala Østergaard-Nielsen, the trio has quickly distinguished itself as one of the most exciting new ensemble projects in Nordic jazz.

Alongside internationally acclaimed bassist Thommy Andersson and the legendary American pianist Marilyn Crispell, Østergaard-Nielsen shapes a sound where silence, dynamics, and intuitive interplay are as essential as melody and rhythm. Crispell – one of the avant-garde’s most influential pianists – was honored in 2025 with the NEA Jazz Master Award, the United States’ highest jazz accolade, cementing her status as one of the world’s most transformative voices in contemporary jazz.

In spring 2025, the trio released their debut album The Cave, which immediately garnered international attention and featured on numerous “Best of” lists. Critics have described the album as “one of the most beautiful expanses of eleven minutes ever recorded” (All About Jazz), “a highly attuned communion” (MOJO), and music that “immediately redraws the codes of the piano trio” (Jazzhalo). Europe Jazz Media praised the album’s evolution as taking “the piano trio to a higher level,” while The Free Jazz Blog highlighted “the profound, immersive beauty of The Cave.”

In Østergaard-Nielsen’s own words:
“The Cave is a deeply personal musical journey into the unknown – a space where sound, silence, and spontaneous interaction shape the narrative.”

This evening in Rådhussalen offers the audience a close and vivid encounter with the trio, where the music is not just performed but arises, forms, and breathes within the room.

For those seeking a concert experience of depth, beauty, and raw musicality, this promises to be one of the absolute highlights of Moldejazz 2026.

Line-up
Marilyn Crispell – piano
Thommy Andersson – bass
Michala Østergaard-Nielsen – drums, percussion

Concerts in our main program last between aprx. 60 to 90 minutes.
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