The evening’s host, Alice Carreri, guided the audience confidently through the program’s award presentations, speeches, and musical performances with her unmistakable warmth and infectious energy. A devoted jazz crowd witnessed a night where both tradition and new voices unfolded, and where Danish jazz was honored and celebrated in the best possible way.

Young talents, strong releases, and dedicated torchbearers

The young jazz comet MUSViT received the evening’s first award, New Jazz Act of the Year, for their self-released album MUSViT. Over the past year, the group has established itself as an act that is here to stay. They were also nominated for Jazz Composer of the Year, while Ronja Rose Andersson received a nomination for Musician of the Year.

Musician of the Year went to Anders AC Christensen for his work on the release Sound Flower by Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen & Marilyn Mazur. The band ØKSE took home the award for Alternative Jazz Release of the Year for their self-titled album.

DMA Jazz not only celebrates the year’s releases, but also the venues and individuals who keep jazz alive. Live Act of the Year was awarded to the Aarhus-based trio Hvalfugl, while the venue KLEIN in Karens Minde Kulturhus received the award for Venue of the Year. The P8 Award – Enthusiast of the Year went to Marie Norman Nyeng & Gorm Askjær for their work with Aarhus Jazz Festival.

Duelund in double triumph – Dinesen takes album of the year

Ida Duelund was one of the evening’s major award recipients. She won both Jazz Composer of the Year for Sibo and Single of the Year for Misi Miamo, and was additionally nominated for Jazz Release of the Year. With these honors, she cements her position as a prominent figure on the Danish jazz scene.

Jazz Release of the Year was awarded to Jakob Dinesen for the remarkably cohesive album Slow Flow. The award was presented by Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt, who attended DMA Jazz for the second year in a row and offered words of encouragement to the Danish jazz community.

Classic swing, avantgarde, and a festive finale

VEGA also hosted a strong live program. Sophisticated Ladies & Kaare Munkholm opened the evening with timeless, swinging jazz, joined midway by the night’s host, vocalist Alice Carreri. Casper Hejlesen created an immersive sonic landscape with his atmospheric guitar tones, and legendary avantgarde saxophonist Lotte Anker presented a brand-new work featuring strings, guitar, drums, and saxophone. Tabloid closed the night with an explosive and gripping concert that put a celebratory exclamation point on the festivities in Store VEGA.

Powerful words and strong messages

In recognition of 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of Danish jazz, two keynote speakers were invited to share their perspectives on jazz’s role in Denmark today. Kasper Tranberg spoke about jazz as a source of beauty, freedom, and solidarity, while Thorbjørn Øllgaard from the rising group Smag På Dig Selv spoke candidly in favor of new directions and renewal in Danish jazz.

Download photos here. (Credit to Peter von Freiesleben)

Winners of DMA Jazz 2025

Jazz Release of the Year
Jakob Dinesen – Slow Flow (April Records)

Jazz Composer of the Year
Ida Duelund for Sibo (Initiated Records)

Alternative Jazz Release of the Year
ØKSE – ØKSE (Backwoodz Studioz)

New Jazz Act of the Year
MUSViT – MUSViT (Self-released)

Musician of the Year
Anders Christensen for his work on Sound Flower
(Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen, Marilyn Mazur – Loveland Music)

Single of the Year
Ida Duelund – Misi Miamo (Initiated Records)

Live Act of the Year
Hvalfugl

Venue of the Year
KLEIN / Karens Minde Kulturhus

P8 Award – Enthusiast of the Year
Marie Norman Nyeng & Gorm Askjær for their work with Aarhus Jazz Festival