On Tuesday evening, Store VEGA formed the setting for the year’s biggest Danish jazz party, when DMA Jazz 2025 invited to an evening filled with awards, music and striking speeches.
The evening’s host, Alice Carreri, guided the audience safely through the program’s award ceremonies, speeches and musical performances with her unmistakable warmth and infectious energy. A dedicated jazz audience witnessed an evening where tradition as well as new forces unfolded, and where Danish jazz was honored and celebrated in the best possible way.
Young talents, strong releases and dedicated enthusiasts
The young jazz comets MUSViT received the evening’s first award as New Jazz Name of the Year for their self-released album MUSViT. Over the past year, the group has distinguished itself as a name that is here to stay, and the band was also nominated for Jazz Composer of the Year, while Ronja Rose Andersson was nominated for Musician of the Year.
Musician of the Year went to Anders AC Christensen (pictured) for his work on the release Sound Flower by Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen & Marilyn Mazur. The band ØKSE won 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 scenes and people who keep jazz alive. The Live Name of the Year was the Aarhus trio Hvalfugl, while the venue KLEIN in Karens Minde Kulturhus received the award for Scene of the Year. The P8 Award – Passionate Soul of the Year went to Marie Norman Nyeng & Gorm Askjær for their work with the Aarhus Jazz Festival.
Ida Duelund was one of the evening’s big award recipients. She received both the award for Jazz Composer of the Year for Sibo and Single of the Year for Misi Miamo, and was also nominated for Jazz Release of the Year. With these honors, she cements her position as a significant figure on the Danish jazz scene.
The Jazz Release of the Year went to Jakob Dinesen for the particularly well-crafted album Slow Flow. The award was presented by Minister of Culture Jakob Engel-Schmidt, who for the second year in a row visited DMA Jazz and sent words of encouragement to Danish jazz.
Classic swinging jazz, avant-garde and a festive finale
VEGA also laid the groundwork for a strong live program. Sophisticated Ladies & Kaare Munkholm opened the ballet with timeless, swinging jazz, and the evening’s host, singer Alice Carreri, joined in along the way. Casper Hejlesen created an enveloping soundscape with his atmospheric guitar tones, and legendary avant-garde saxophonist Lotte Anker presented a completely new work with strings, guitar, drums and saxophone. Tabloid rounded off the evening with an explosive and captivating concert that put an end to the party in Store VEGA.
Burning words and strong messages
On the occasion of 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of Danish jazz, two keynote speakers were invited to give their perspectives on the role of jazz in today’s Denmark. Kasper Tranberg spoke about jazz as a source of beauty, freedom and solidarity, while Thorbjørn Øllgaard from the progressive Smag På Dig Selv spoke eloquently for new winds and renewal in Danish jazz.
The winners of DMA Jazz 2025 are:
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 Name of the Year
MUSViT – MUSViT (Self-Published)
Musician of the Year
Anders Christensen for his work on Jesper Zeuthen, Anders Christensen, Marilyn Mazur – Sound Flower (Loveland Music)
Single of the Year
Ida Duelund – Misi Miamo (Initiated Records)
Live Name of the Year
Hvalfugl
Stage of the Year
KLEIN / Karens Minde Kulturhus
P8 Award – Passionate Soul of the Year
Marie Norman Nyeng & Gorm Askjær for their work with Aarhus Jazz Festival
Press release from Dansk Jazz
Photo: Peter von Freiesleben
