Charles Bradley, Mette Henriette, The Budos Band and others ready for Moldejazz!

Charles Bradley

Charles Bradley is a soul artist of the old school, with characteristically hoarse, powerful voice and a passionate empathy. As a young man he watched James Brown perform at the Apollo Theater in New York, an experience that inspired him to emulate his new hero. Over the years, Bradley has developed his own style. For many years, Bradley was constantly on the move and lived from odd jobs and occasional concerts before DAPTONE Records discovered him. He debuted with No time for Dreaming (2011) and followed up with Victim of Love (2013) and Changes (2016). All his albums were well received, especially by a younger crowd that preferred soul-Renaissance. Bradley is a brilliant live artist and many soul-loving fans at Moldejazz will surely be pleased when Charles Bradley treats them at Alexandra Park. For those who remember James Brown's legendary concert at Sports House in 1986, then this could be the closest experience.

Hedvig Mollestad Trio feat Mats Gustafsson

Since their album Shoot! Debuted in 2011 Hedvig Mollestad Trio have established themself as an internationally admired power trio that continues the legacy of famous guitar, bass and drum groups, yet obtains and refreshes the format. They intertwine rock heaviness with jazz flexibility. After the debut, the trio has released two more albums, All Of Them Witches (2013) and Enfant Terrible (2014). In 2016 they come with a full two releases, a double live album that sums up their career to date, and a new studio album that charts a new course for the trio. As an extra treat the concert offers an exclusive meeting between the trio and Mats Gustafsson, a musician who is known for the power and energy he brings to the music, something those who experienced him as AIR at Moldejazz 2015 can testify. This interaction between Gustafsson and Hedvig Mollestad Trio can be one of the hottest music meetings in 2016.

Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen - guitar, Ellen Brekken - bass, Ivar Loe Bjørnstad - drums and Mats Gustafsson - saxophone.

Mette Henriette

When a relatively unknown Mette Henriette came out with a double album on the world-leading ECM label, the label that releases including Keith Jarrett and Jan Garbarek, it attracted a lot of international attention. Before that, the 25-year-old artist from Trondheim had been a "hot topic" in the internal jazz scene. Virtually overnight the saxophonist with Sami roots shot to international fame after her debut album received critical acclaim in both domestic and foreign press. On Moldejazz she performs with a crew that is based on the album.

Kvernberg / Nilssen-Love / Håker Flaten / Maneri

Mat Maneri grew up in Brooklyn and for more than 20 years has been a leading violinist and violist in the part of the American jazz scene that challenge boundaries. Instrument-colleague Ola Kvernberg grew up in Fræna outside Molde and shares the American's fascination to challenge musical boundaries, and also his own. He met and heard Maneri live in Chicago seven years ago and that Maneri, considering the esthetics and shape brings the music with his instrument into a whole new world. Kvernberg challenges himself further by connecting a bass / drum team he has never played with before, but always had a great sense of. The music is basically open - "we explore with clean sheets," says Kvernberg, "maybe we take with us a little sketch, but here we work with a lot of improvisation."

Ola Kvernberg - violin / viola mm, Mat Maneri - violin / viola, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten - bass and Paal Nilssen-Love - drums.

The Budos Band

Nine-man strong The Budos Band blends fiery Afro-beat, inspired by Fela Kuti among others, with heavy funk, soul-jazz, R&B and psychedelic rock to fascinating and riveting music. Massive blowers and multi rendering guitar lines over a driving compostion appeal to both those who enjoy dancing and those who like to revel the performance. The Budos Band has released four albums and an EP on Daptone Records, the last of which, Burnt Offering, came in 2014 to very good reviews on leading sites like Pitchfork and The Quietus. The latter describes the release as "the perfect alchemy of the basic elements involved - this is not fusion, but practically a whole new genre in itself."

Luke Elliot

Luke Elliot is often compared to Tom Waits, one dream artist for many Moldejazz Fans. Well knowing that Waits is no longer on tour, there is nothing more  natural than booking this up-and-coming American whom already has become close to  many norwegians hearts. Musically, he is absolutely standing on his own two feet.

No one experiencing Luke Elliot on stage goes unimpressed out of the venue afterwards. With rave reviews for his debut album "Dressed For The Occasion"; 6 in Dagbladet, 5 Dagsavisen, Music News, Fevennen and Rogaland Avis, TV appearances on Lindmo and Good Morning Norway, it is an absolute pleasure to present Luke Elliot for the Molde Jazz audience.

Red Hot

Molde High School was the breeding ground for what later became the full-grown R & B / rockabilly / funk- collective Red Hot. Anyone who has visited the Jazz during the last years knows that this band rock their live performance. Red Hot took Moldejazz by storm in 2008 with three concerts, and since then there has been no turning back! The band's live recording of Vidar Busk-produced Hotter Than Georgia Asphalt and led to extensive touring. Molde Jazz is not the same without Red Hot, and we look forward to another dose of funky, Romsdal's signature blues in Alexandra Park.

Gammalgrass

It is rare that the Artist In Residence incorporates Alexandra Park as a venue in their concert series. When Ola Kvernberg does so, it says a lot about the extent of his artistic work. He goes on stage with Stian Carstensen and Ole Morten Vågan under the name Gammal Grass. The band explores the relationship between Gammaldans and Bluegrass, Norwegian and American traditional music that according to the band has a lot in common. But there is some differences, and the band is particularly keen to find out why there is so little improvisation in Gammaldans. They do this through whimsical methods, also verbally, making Gammal Grass concerts for a very fun experience.

Mella & Friends

In 2015 the Gildehallen reopened as "Old Persperation Hall" and so with great success. This year, like last year there will be Jan Inge "Mella" Melsæter and his friends who will compose the music. In addition to Melle's permanent partners in the Oslo region, Ivar Andresen and Johan Bergli, the orchestra this year will include his friends from past with Arthur Livid and his jazz-message.

Tokle

Kristoffer Tokle won Sparebank1's Jazz Talent Award at the Molde Jazz 2014 and the concert he performed in 2015 was like a street party from New Orleans and now it is possible to hear him again. The band, including members Kåre Nymark, Tricia Boutté and Lars Frank, offers music with strong New Orleans-references like The Meters, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint. It gets energetic, hypnotic, enchanting and alive. The band has even expressed a desire for the audience to let themselves loose and embrace the madness that may ensue.

Tito Lausteen Quartet

It has almost become a tradition that previous year's Union Blues Cup winner at Notodden Blues Festival perform at MoldeJazz. Tito Lausteen Quartet plays catchy modern blues, occasionally mixed with driving boogie woogie. The band plays self-composed melodic songs with inspiration from other genres and artists ranging from Allmanna Brothers Band, Grateful Dead and Eric Clapton and others. They promise catchy riffs, good melodies and delightful atmosphere that will keep the crowd moving when they go on stage as the opening band on Monday and Tuesday in Alexandraparken.

Molde Jazz has previously launched Pat Metheny & Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis with Kurt Elling, Ane Brun, Joss Stone, Esperanza Spalding, ChiPat Metheny & Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis with Kurt Elling, Ane Brun, Joss Stone, Esperanza Spalding, Chick Corea, Lizz Wright, Jaga Jazzist, Wadada Leo Smith, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Scrap, In the Country with Solveig Slettahjell and Reiersrud, Karpe Diem, Lemaitre, Lars Vaular, Skruk & Vårsøg with Sondre Bratland, Kaja Draksler & Susan Santos Silva, Cory Henry, Marilyn Mazur's Shamani, Eyolf Dale's Wolf Valley, Anna Högberg Attack, Gard Nilssen's Acustic Unity, LaLaLand feat Django Bates Building Instrument, Ivan Ave, Mutual Intentions, Driving Miles and Ola Kvernberg as Artist In Residence with the projects "Mechanical Fair," "Steam Dome," "Porkotta" and "Kirsti, Ola and Erik."

Tickets for sale now!