New Nordic free jazz

KLOKKE was formed in 2017 by trumpeter and composer Jeppe Hjøllund and some of his best companions on the young Aarhus jazz scene.

Based on the free jazz of the 60s and a traditional quintet line-up, there are plenty of familiar references, but also just as many ways to defy people's expectations of a jazz band. The band draws inspiration from many parts of the musical landscape.

Post-rock, contemporary classical, and Nordic folk music find their way into the compositions and improvised progressions. The result is a kind of new Nordic free jazz, and KLOKKE lands somewhere between mainstream and avant-garde. That's why it sounds both familiar and fresh at the same time.

In 2023, the band's second album project will be released in the form of an anthology of single releases over the spring and summer. To mark the occasion, KLOKKE will play a series of concerts around the country.

On their debut album Hjem Til Det Grå (2020), KLOKKE pay tribute to childhood, naivety, and the memories we all carry around from early life. The album is characterized by nostalgia, longing, joy, and curiosity and appeals to the entire emotional register. 

"Hjem Til Det Grå contains meaningful, well-crafted, and expertly played compositions by trumpeter Jeppe Hjøllund. Each of them has its own sound and direction. The musicians take pride in keeping the music consistently varied without trying to be clever." Jazz Special.

"Hjem Til Det Grå must be what happens after the end of the album. It is anything but gray." Niels Overgård, Jazznyt.com

The album can be heard on Bandcamp or your favorite streaming service.

Read more about KLOKKE