Over the spring, the three bands ELJO, Purpur and Venya have performed concerts under the Jazzkonkurrencen banner in Odense, Aalborg and Kolding. On Wednesday, the programme culminated in the final, which returned to the legendary Jazzhus Montmartre after one year in Kolding. Following three outstanding performances and the jury’s deliberation, Purpur could lift the trophy.

The final evening offered not only strong musical experiences, but also unexpected drama. After a beautiful and confident performance from Venya, showcasing their soulful and pop-infused fusion jazz, Purpur originally took the stage as the second act but had to leave after just a few minutes due to a medical incident within the band.

At that moment, the participants, venue staff and audience all showed remarkable flexibility and support. Following a quick reshuffle, ELJO stepped in to perform in Purpur’s place, presenting their minimalist yet rhythmically complex universe to the highly attentive audience. As the final act of the evening, Purpur returned in a slightly altered line-up and finally delivered their folk-inspired take on melodic Nordic jazz.

A band with a capital B

The jury – consisting of Nanna Ruus, Sophie Amalie “Fimmer” Engell and William Littauer – took to the stage after the performances and announced Purpur as the winners of Jazzkonkurrencen. In their statement, the jury highlighted the band’s remarkable development throughout the programme, their strong sense of unity and their exciting musical direction:

“Tonight’s winners are truly a band with a capital B. They have undergone tremendous development. They are both courageous and playful, and their music is already incredibly exciting for audiences to listen to. We hope they will continue spending time in the rehearsal room exploring exactly what kind of music they most want to create.”

Purpur then returned to the stage to receive the audience’s enthusiastic applause, along with the prize of 10,000 DKK for a self-chosen project and an EP recording including mixing at The Hideout Studio in Aalborg.

From imposter syndrome to confidence and victory

The winners were visibly moved afterwards and emphasised how the programme had strengthened their confidence and helped support their future plans:

“When we were selected for Jazzkonkurrencen, we had massive imposter syndrome, but it has been such a welcoming and educational experience. Huge thanks to everyone who has worked on this along the way – and especially to the other participants. We have so many future plans that suddenly feel much more achievable because of this prize.”

At the time of writing, concerts with Purpur have already been booked in Odense, Kolding and Aalborg and will be announced soon. Keep an eye out for ELJO, Venya and Purpur in your local concert listings – this may well be the sound of tomorrow’s jazz.

About Jazzkonkurrencen

Jazzkonkurrencen is a development programme for musicians under the age of 30, focused on strengthening participants’ networks, providing valuable live experience and increasing their insight into the music industry. The programme consists of concerts at renowned venues across Denmark, where participants receive feedback after each performance. In addition, all participants receive individual coaching from a professional coach or manager and take part in a shared two-day bootcamp.