Norwegian jazz collective Wako, nominated last year at the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) awards for best jazz album of 2022, will return to Jazz Café POSK on Friday 16 February, just under a year after their enthusiastically received March 2023 concert.
Wako are described in their press materials as ‘four Norwegian improvisers with an utter disregard for purism, and an almost reckless attitude towards taking musical risks.’ They have just recorded their 7th album. I asked saxophonist Martin Myhre Olsen to talk about their upcoming London concert: “There will be new music! We’re very excited to have the chance to explore material from our upcoming album, that’s going to be released in the fall, together with a selection of ‘hits’ from previous albums.”
According to Olsen, their next album is, in essence, “a follow-up of our previous acclaimed release Ut Av Det Nye, where we wanted to create an album that’s just good, that little gem of an album you could put on at any time. What came out of that was the need to make an intimate acoustic jazz quartet recording that could capture the indefinable spirit of Wako most purely, and at the same time reflect us getting older and maturing as a band.”
Considered by many to be one of the most dynamic and innovative groups on today’s jazz scene, with a solid fan base and recognition from critics near and far, Wako are certainly placed at the forefront of Nordic jazz. I asked Olsen what makes their concerts a special experience: “We’ve been working closely together as a collective for a decade now, developing and exploring our very own language and approach to music, in the studio and on the road. The scope of Wako’s music is always carefully adjusted to the audience, environment, and musical material, which means that the concerts are unique experiences.”
And what are Wako’s main musical influences, if any? “What we treasure in Wako as a group, is that every band member is encouraged to bring their musical influences at the time into the music we play. Whether it be John Coltrane, Rashaan Roland Kirk, The Beatles, or Nick Drake, we’re always going to be inspired by great music and together strive to be ourselves.”
And why should the London jazz audience come to Wako’s concert on 16th of February at Jazz Café POSK? “This band is unlike anything they’ve ever heard, and we always give it our all on stage. We’ve been in London only three times in 10 years… We have very fond memories from our first concert at Jazz Café POSK! The heartwarming welcome from the audience and staff made the evening very special for us, and that’s why we wanted to come back for a 2nd concert… and who knows when we’ll make it back?”
Wako lineup:
Martin Myhre Olsen – saxophones
Kjetil Mulelid – piano
Bárður Reinert Poulsen – double bass
Simon Olderskog Albertsen – drums
Wako @ Jazz Café POSK, Friday 16 February 2024, Bar 7:30pm / music 8:30pm.
Tickets £15 on the door and on Eventbrite.
Tomasz Furmanek is Artistic Manager at Jazz Café POSK
