Kongsberg Jazz Festival or Kongsberg Jazzfestival is an international jazz festival that has been held annually in Kongsberg, Norway, since 1964.
Artists
Several worldwide great artists have visited Kongsberg during this festival. International stars including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Nigel Kennedy, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Dianne Reeves, McCoy Tyner, Radka Toneff, Bobby McFerrin, John Butcher, Anthony Braxton, Diana Krall and Pat Metheny have played in Kongsberg several times.
The festival has also offered performance opportunities for young musicians, and many now-renowned Norwegian jazz artists began their careers at Kongsberg.
Awards The Kongsberg Jazz Award (also called the DNB award, established in 1996) was an award given to the most prominent Norwegian jazz artists of the year at the festival, given in cooperation with DNB. The award was previously known as the DnB NOR Award, the Vital Award and the KlartSvar Award, reflecting its various sponsors over the years.
Until 2011, the prize was 100,000 Norwegian kroner, but from 2012 it was increased to 300,000 Norwegian kroner, making it the largest jazz prize in Norway. As part of the prize, the recipient performed a concert at the festival the following year.
Award winners Year Award winners Instruments2025Hanna Paulsbergsaxophone2024Henriette Eilertsenflute2023Per Zanussiupright bass2022Thomas Strønendrums/percussion2021Anja Lauvdalkeyboards2019Hedvig Mollestad Thomassenguitar2018 Eirik Hegdal saxophone2017 Marius Neset saxophone2016 Susanna Wallumrød vocals2015 Ellen Andrea Wang bass2014 Mathias Eick trumpet 2013 Håkon Mjåset Johansen drums 2012 Ola Kvernberg violin 2011 Arve Henriksentrumpet 2010 Maria Kannegaard piano 2009 Ole Morten Vågan double bass 2008 Helge Lien piano 2007 Morten Qvenild piano 2006 Håvard Wiik piano 2005 Solveig Slettahjellvocals 2004 Ingebrigt Håker Flaten double bass 2003 Live Maria Roggenvocals 2002 Håkon Kornstad TrioHåkon Kornstad Paal Nilssen-Love Mats Eilertsen saxophone drums upright-bass 2001 Christian Wallumrød piano 2000 Petter Wettre saxophone 1999 Audun Kleive drums 1998 Sidsel Endresen vocals 1997 Bugge Wesseltoft piano 1996 Nils Petter Molvær trumpet
References
External links
Tredobler jazzprisen by Terje Mosnes at Dagbladet (in Norwegian)