Stormjazz 2026: Jazzcafé - Kjetil Mulelid trio

With three critically acclaimed albums and extensive international touring, the trio has established itself as a central voice in the Nordic jazz tradition.

The music is based on Mulelid's own compositions, where melodic clarity meets rhythmic complexity and harmonic depth. The expression balances the energetic and the quiet, and allows beautiful, open melodies to emerge in a soundscape that is constantly in motion. It is a music that takes its time - that develops layer by layer, with a calm and thoughtful nature that at the same time contains great intensity.

Together with bassist Rune Nergaard and drummer Andreas Winther, Mulelid creates a close and intuitive interaction. The trio format is classic, but the expression is lively and flexible, with great emphasis on collective improvisation and joint communication. Here a sound universe characterized by nuances, dynamics and a distinct Scandinavian sensibility arises.

References to pianists such as Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans are often highlighted, but the trio has also developed a distinctly own language. The result is music that is both accessible and profound – an expression that invites the listener in, and that constantly opens up new spaces.

Kjetil Mulelid is from Skaret on Valderøya, and spent a lot of time there as a child. This connection to Sunnmøre gives the concert an extra local dimension. When the Jazz Circle acquired a new piano in 2025, it was Mulelid who auditioned and selected the instrument – ​​a Schimmel K122E. During Stormjazz, he finally gets the opportunity to explore this piano in a concert context, which gives an extra dimension to the meeting between musician and instrument.

It is a conscious choice to present this star trio in an intimate “Jazzsirkelen jazzcafé” setting. A jazz festival in Ålesund is difficult to imagine without this setting – close to the music, close to the performers, and with room for the concentrated listening experience.

At Stormjazz, the Kjetil Mulelid Trio is presented in a format that facilitates close listening and presence. This is a concert where the details have a place, and where the interaction is at the center.

Kjetil Mulelid – piano
Rune Nergaard – double bass
Andreas Winther – drums

Tickets can be purchased via Tikkio. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door using Vipps.

Purchased tickets are not refundable. Our concerts are photographed. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.