Hedvig Mollestad

Introducing Weejuns: The Thrilling Trio Shaking Up the Jazz Scene Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen – Guitar Ståle Storløkken – Organ Ole Mofjell – Drums In recent years, Mollestad has solidified her position as an uncompromising composer and guitarist within her genre – and beyond. She's toured the world with her steadfast trio, clinched the Norwegian Grammy two years in a row for her solo releases, and in 2023, she held the esteemed title of Artist in Residence at Moldejazz – the most prestigious appointment a jazz musician can receive, next year the Bill Frisell will hold the title. Joining her were luminaries such as Nels Cline from Wilco and Trevor Dunn from Mr. Bungle. Weejuns (am. slang for Norwegians) mark her latest endeavor: a sparkling trio featuring Ståle Storløkken, renowned for his work with Terje Rypdal, Supersilent, and Elephant9, alongside Ole Mofjell, one of the foremost young drummers on the European improv scene. In Weejuns, the principles of elongated, composed stretches have been cast aside, leaving behind an open door to an immense universe of sparkling interplay and picturesque structures, a sensation of weightlessness where the concept of time is disrupted, and the musicians converge in a grand trilogy. Yet, beneath it all lies an allure towards powerful riffs and pulsations, drawing associations not only to the monumental sounds of Rypdal but also to the transition between the 60s and 70s, from the eras of Bitches Brew and Mahavishnu. Their debut album, released on 01.09.23, garnered glowing reviews both domestically and internationally: • "On the electrifying Stay At Your Peril, with a theme first heard briefly on the opener, Mollestad heart-stoppingly wrings out every conceivable permutation stemming from an ostinato motif. It’s a free-flowing performance that should surely consolidate her position at the very top of the jazz-rock guitarists’ tree." - Jazzjournal (UK) • "The encapsulating live double album comes as a welcome return for one of the most perplexing and original contemporary artists in Europe today." - Presto Music (UK) • "There's a lot of golden age prog and jazz rock here, adventurously exploratory and fluid, yet with a unique ability to dive into irresistible grooves and riffs that beckon the rock foot." - Dagens Næringsliv • "It relentlessly moves forward, challenging boundaries and perspectives. It's brilliant." - Lira (SE) • "Mollestad has always had to barrel hoop her energies to bring form to her eruptive powers (...) but with Weejuns, the corsets are off. This live double album captures the trio improvising extensively, with written-in hooks and riffs keeping the three oriented." - Jazzwise (UK)