Emil Hess Quartet

Name: Emil Hess Quartet
Start: 2026-11-22T15:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-22T17:00:00+01:00
Location: Sønderborghus

Sun, 22 Nov 2026 · 15:00 — 17:00

Sønderborghus, Sønderborg · 170 kr. · ≈ 23 €

concert Jazz date culture

Emil Hess Quartet — Sønderborghus, Sønderborg

Emil Hess Quartet brings Nordic jazz with transatlantic roots to Sønderborghus - featuring original compositions that shift between dreamy soundscapes and swinging rhythms.

The quartet is built on a deep musical partnership: Emil Hess and pianist Thomas Clausen have played together for over 25 years. They are joined by Canadian bassist Graig Earle and drummer Jonas Johansen - all award-winning musicians with an intimate knowledge of each other's playing. The quartet's latest album, "Open Minds", was released in 2025.

Advance tickets offer discounts for members of Sønderborg Jazzclub, students, those under 21, and members of Barn af Sønderborg. You can also join Sønderborg Jazzclub when purchasing tickets.

About: Emil Hess Quartet

Saxophonist Emil Hess brings together his regular quartet - Thomas Clausen on piano, Canadian Graig Earle on bass and American Richard Huntley on drums - for an evening of Nordic jazz that draws as much on New York as on Scandinavia. Hess ranks among Danish jazz's most prolific composers, with over 400 works and a Danish Music Award to his name.

400+

compositions written by Emil Hess

1500+

concerts at home and abroad

18+

released albums as leader or co-leader

Danish Music Award 2014, best Danish jazz album

What's new

2025-01
Emil Hess Quartet released the album "Open Minds" on January 31, 2025 on Hess Music - a double album with eight new original compositions and standard interpretations.
2025-02
The quartet played release concerts for "Open Minds" at Paradise Jazz in Huset Magstræde, Copenhagen, on February 6, 11, 12 and 13, 2025.
2025-02
Jazznyt.com reviewed "Open Minds" and particularly highlighted the track "You" with Hess on tenor saxophone as well as the quartet's Scandinavian character.

Tracks

Open Mindstitle track from 2025 album, Hess plays bass clarinet

Questionsopening track on "Open Minds" (2025) with distinct Scandinavian elements

Cry Me a Riverstandard interpretation on "Open Minds" (2025), duo with Thomas Clausen

African FlowerDuke Ellington standard, interpreted on "Open Minds" (2025)

3 X Hess: Music for Mum & Dadwon Danish Music Award 2014 for best Danish jazz album

About: Thomas Clausen

A pianist who has shaped Danish and European jazz since the 1960s, Thomas Clausen built his reputation both as a sought-after sideman for American jazz giants and as the leader of his own ever-evolving trios. His playing weaves Nordic lyricism with classical and Brazilian influences - a range recognised by the Ben Webster Award and a lifelong grant from the Danish Arts Foundation.

791

monthly listeners on Spotify

1989

Ben Webster Prize received

2013

lifetime honorary grant from the State Arts Foundation awarded from

What's new

2026
Thomas Clausen released the single 'Cry Me a River' in 2026 via Spotify.
2026-04
Thomas Clausen Trio performed at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen on April 24, 2026.
2026
The album 'Symbiosis · Tribute to Bill Evans' with Thomas Clausen Trio and Singapore Symphony Orchestra was released on PENTATONE in 2026.

Tour

København

Tracks

Back2BasicsTrio album (Stunt, 2021) - voted 'Album of the Year 2021' by Jazz Special and given 5 hearts by Politiken

Symbiosis · Tribute to Bill EvansAlbum with Singapore Symphony Orchestra (PENTATONE, 2026)

Café NoirAlbum with Gary Burton (1990)

Flowers & TreesAlbum with Gary Burton (1991)

Cry Me a RiverSingle (2026)

Recent shows

Nov 14, 2002 Toldkammeret, Helsingør (DK)
Sep 12, 2002 Mulle Rudi, Roskilde (DK)
Jul 14, 2002 Bartof Cafe, Copenhagen (DK)

About: Graig Earle

Canadian double bassist Graig Earle splits his time between Copenhagen and New York, and has long been a go-to figure on the Scandinavian jazz circuit. Trained privately by Ray Brown and Dave Holland, and with two Danish Music Awards to his name, he brings deep roots and a restless musical curiosity to every stage.

Danish Music Award-winning albums as a contributor

25+

countries toured in

What's new

2025-02
Graig Earle performed at Smalls Jazz Club in New York with pianist Brenda Earle Stokes and drummer Ross Pederson.
2023-06
The Machina Mundi quartet, in which Earle plays bass, released its self-titled debut album on Animal Music.
2023-03
Spil Dansk updated Earle's artist profile and highlighted his studies with Mridangam master Thrichur C. Narendran as part of his musical background.

Tracks

Rosendal.Earle.TempletonDMA-winning album 2008, "Album of the Year Jazz Record"

PrügelknabeSimon Toldam album, DMA winner 2007 for the year's crossover jazz release - Earle as bassist and arranger

Machina MundiDebut album with the quartet Machina Mundi, released 2023 on Animal Music

Open MindsTrack with Emil Hess, Thomas Clausen and Richard Huntley (2025)

About: Jonas Johansen

A central figure in Danish jazz since the late 1980s, Jonas Johansen brings a career spanning over 200 albums and collaborations with international stars to every performance - rooted in jazz tradition, but shaped by musical encounters across four continents.

200+

album on the discography

solo album under own name

40+

year at top level

Danish Grammy nomination (jazz album)

What's new

2025-forår
Jazz Explorer Trio released the EP 'Three Kinds Of Blue' - a trio interpretation of Miles Davis' iconic 'Kind Of Blue' album.
2025-10
Copenhagen Jazz Orchestra performs 'Kind Of Blue' at Baltoppen LIVE in Ballerup and Portalen in Greve with Jonas Johansen on drums.
2026-01
Jonas Johansen participates in the premiere of the ballet 'Come Fly Away' at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.

Tour

KøbenhavnBallerupGreveAarhusBjerringbroHørsholm

Tracks

AdventureDebut album with Jonas Johansen Adventure Trio, released February 29, 2024

Three Kinds Of BlueEP with Jazz Explorer Trio (2025) - trio interpretation of Miles Davis' 'Kind Of Blue'

Please MoveAlbum from 1999 nominated for Danish Grammy in the category album of the year in jazz

CharmcatcherAlbum from 2017 with original compositions in quartet setting

DivisionsAlbum from 2013 with Jonas Johansen, Lars Møller and Ronan Guilfoyle

Recent shows

Sep 23, 2004 Godset, Kolding (DK)
Jul 7, 2004 Café Den Blå Hund, Copenhagen (DK)
May 30, 2002 Studenterhuset, Copenhagen (DK)

Emil Hess Quartet

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