For the second year in a row, a filled Store VEGA set the stage for the year’s biggest celebration of the Danish jazz scene, the Danish Music Awards Jazz 2024.

The evening kicked off with a newly established collaboration between the songwriter Bisse and the experimental band SVIN—performing under the name BISSESVINET. Their electrifying and energetic performance set the tone for a night full of musicality and unexpected moments. The DMA Jazz got off to a fresh start before this year’s host, Kresten Osgood, took the stage.

Awards for the younger generation

The first round of awards predominantly celebrated the younger generation of jazz musicians. The title of New Jazz Artist of the Year was awarded to drummer, composer, and vocalist Øyunn, who also recently received the Breakthrough Award at the Tivoli Jazz Awards. The band Amalie Dahl’s Dafnie won the Single of the Year award for their track “We Don’t Want Your Stupid War.”

The Alternative Jazz Release of the Year award went to the collaboration between Rasmus Holms Quartet and the string ensemble Crush String Collective for their album anXietY Suite. Pianist Rasmus Sørensen took home the brand-new Musician of the Year award for his performance on the album Balancing Act.

Back-to-back trombone and a special saxophone duo

The stream of awards was punctuated by two showcases highlighting jazz’s signature instruments. Lis Wessberg’s Yellow Map filled VEGA’s stage with atmospheric, melodic, and vibrant trombone-led jazz. Following this, Maria Bertel took the stage solo, transforming the trombone into a mesmerizing noise machine that made the floors and walls vibrate. Later in the evening, Søren Siegumfeldt and Jan zum Vohrde performed as a saxophone duo—an exclusive pairing created especially for the occasion.

Live awards and a touching tribute

The next set of awards introduced two new categories: Live Act of the Year and Venue of the Year. Kathrine Windfeld, who has made a significant mark on live stages this year as the leader of both a big band and a sextet, received the Live Act of the Year award. The Venue of the Year award went to Jazzy Days in Tversted, honored for its exceptional contribution to the region with a program of outstanding quality.

A deeply emotional Stefan Pasborg Trio followed with a specially arranged medley in tribute to the late master drummer Alex Riel. The entire hall responded with a standing ovation.

P8 Jazz Prize and DMA singalong

P8 Jazz hosts Niels Christian Cederberg and Fredrik Korfix presented the radio station’s special Jazz Enthusiast of the Year award to the young volunteers from JazzHaus in Kolding. Having been nominated several times in the past, it was a joyous sight to finally see a large group of these passionate young individuals take the stage at VEGA.

The evening culminated with an all-star lineup of Danish jazz musicians leading the audience in a singalong of Edwin Starr’s “War”, complete with Kresten Osgood’s uniquely jazzified reinterpretations. Throughout the evening, the host kept the energy unpredictable with quirky interludes, including a trombone solo that never quite started, increasingly offbeat award category suggestions, and Swedish jazz blaring from a boombox.

The minister of culture presented the evening’s top prize

Jakob Buchanan was awarded Jazz Composer of the Year for his monumental work Song and Wind, created in collaboration with the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, the Copenhagen Boys’ Choir, and Marilyn Mazur.

The evening’s biggest surprise came when Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt presented the Jazz Release of the Year award to the night’s host, Kresten Osgood. A visibly moved and astonished Osgood, joined by his quintet, accepted the accolade for the album Live at H15 Studio. The announcement brought the audience to its feet in jubilation.

A soulful conclusion and late-night jam

After the final awards were handed out, Melissa Inya brought the evening to a close with a stunning performance of vocal-driven soul-jazz, tying a perfect bow on a night that celebrated jazz in all its forms. As the program concluded, attendees, nominees, and performers flowed into a packed Ideal Bar, where Art Roho kept the jazz party alive well into the early hours.

New Jazz Artist of the Year
Øyunn – Aspects (Midnight Confessions)

Single of the Year
Amalie Dahl’s Dafnie – We Don’t Want Your Stupid War (Sonic Transmissions Records)

Alternative Jazz Release of the Year
Rasmus Holm Quartet x Crush String Collective – anXietY Suite (Gateway Music)

Musician of the Year
Rasmus Sørensen – Balancing Act (with Alexander Claffy & Kendrick Scott, April Records)

P8 Jazz Prize – Jazz Enthusiast of the Year
The young volunteers from JazzHaus, Kolding

Live Act of the Year
Kathrine Windfeld

Venue of the Year
Jazzy Days, Tversted

Jazz Composer of the Year
Jakob Buchanan – Song & Wind (with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Copenhagen Boys’ Choir & Marilyn Mazur, Our Recordings)

Jazz Release of the Year
Kresten Osgood Quintet – Live at H15 Studio (ILK Music)