OJKOS & Maria Dybbroe

Danish-born, Norway-based Maria Dybbroe is a highly active and award-winning composer, improviser, bandleader, saxophonist, and clarinetist. Wood Wide Web is her second commissioned work for OJKOS, premiered at Victoria Nasjonal Jazzscene in October 2024 with a stellar lineup of guest performers, including the remarkable Swedish vocalist Mariam Wallentin.

Dybbroe describes the work as “a poetic depiction and reflection on the mysterious life of fungi, with their vast branching systems and vital role for humans, animals, and plants—and the connections between humans and nature. Fungi are key players in most of life’s processes and exist in more places than you might think, even within your own body. They provide trees and animals with knowledge and nutrients, and challenge our understanding of both individuality and intelligence. The work explores this communication and engages with branches, networks, and mystery in various ways.”

Performers:
Mariam Wallentin – vocals, Andrea Giordano – vocals, flute & electronics, Maria Dybbroe – saxophone & composition, Sigrid Aftret – saxophone & flute, Ville Lähteenmäki – bass clarinet, Øyvind Mathisen – trumpet, Jørgen Bjelkerud – trombone, Tuva Halse – violin, Katt Hernandez – violin, Andrine Dyblie Erdal – cello, Lars Andreas Haug – tuba, Åsmund Perssønn Ødegaard – guitar, Torstein Slåen – guitar, Petter Asbjørnsen – bass, Trym Saugstad Karlsen – drums

Concerts in our main program typically last between 60 to 90 minutes.
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In recent years, Maria Dybbroe has been a highly active performer as both a soloist and bandleader on the experimental jazz scene in the Nordic region, and in 2021 she was nominated for “Composer of the Year” at the Danish Music Awards. She is active in the Danish Music Awards–nominated band Cactus, the award-winning improvised music group Maraton, as well as the ensembles Køs, Orsa, Coriolis, Sidechains, Dynastiet, and Copenhagen Clarinet Choir. Maria has studied at the Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium in Aarhus and at the Norges musikkhøgskole.

OJKOS (The Orchestra for Jazz Composers in Oslo) is a modern jazz orchestra made up of the next generation of innovative musical voices in the Oslo area. Since its establishment in 2018, the orchestra has premiered more than 60 works and released 13 albums, and continues to attract growing interest across the jazz world.