Loveless Blue Jazz Quintet (US/DK)

Jazz with a touch of blues, soul, and gospel. A strong group consisting of some of the country's most prominent profiles has come together around their shared passion.

The Aarhus group has been warmly received both by audiences and the critics. Including at Aarhus Jazz Festival with the verdict:

"It's a fantastic mix of intimacy and beautifully served classics infused with well-timed explosiveness when James Loveless takes the stage with his Loveless Blue Jazz Quintet" (JazzLive).

In 2024, the band's debut album was nominated for DMA Album of the Year in the Blues category. Confused? There's jazz in the band name, but the Loveless Blue Jazz Quintet has hit the blue notes shared by jazz, soul, blues ,and gospel.

In addition to frontman James Loveless - known from the award-winning Shades of Blue and performances with his son Shaka Loveless - the band features a big swinging team consisting of Niels Mathiasen, sax, Kristian Fogh, piano, Jørgen Nielsen, bass, and Jens Kristian Dam, drums. They are experienced musicians known from bands like Gnags, Grarup All Stars, Lars Lilholt, Mike Andersen, Big Gumbo, Frimer Band, and Bourbon Street Jazz Band.

This diverse musical background provides a different approach when old classics like 

"God Bless the Child", "Georgia On My Mind", and "All of Me" are performed with dynamic nerve by Loveless Blue Jazz Quintet. Spirituals like "Wade in the Water" and "I Shall Not Be Moved" are given new life in the band's stirring, genre-bending arrangements.

With such a broad musical base, Loveless Blue Jazz Quintet appeals to a wide range of audiences and plays packed venues. In addition to jazz festivals, the quintet has performed in jazz clubs, cultural centers, churches, and other venues throughout the country. For example: Kulturhuset Islands Brygge, Grønnegades Kaserne, Næstved, Manzius Live, Industrien in Aarup, Casa V58 in Aarhus, Jazzens Venner Randers, Kulturium - Ishøj Musikteater, Jazzklub 93, Holstebro, Hagge's Musik Pub. Tønder, Jazzværket in Brabrand, Jazzy Days in Tversted, Stauning Havn Festival, and others.