Copenhagen Jazz Festival: Near the Pond Septet

Near the Pond is a strong collective consisting of vocalist Josefine Cronholm, cornettist Kirk Knuffke, bassist Thommy Andersson and vibraphonist Bent Clausen.

The collective's first release, the critically acclaimed jazz album Near the Pond from 2021, was a joint project between Josefine Cronholm, Kirk Knuffke and Thommy Andersson. Four years later, the follow-up, WILD GEESE, is released, where vibraphonist and drummer Bent Clausen has become a permanent member. This evening, the quartet has joined forces with three Viennese string players and emerges as Near the Pond Septet, and this is the music you can hear this summer evening, among other things.

Literary inspirations – from the American Midwest to 12th-century Japan

The group's music is inspired by the Swedish/American author Carl Sandburg (1878-1967). Sandburg was born by Swedish parents in Galesburg, Illinois. He was both an author, poet and guitarist, and became known as America's singing bard, with his poems to the people in their own language. The 2021 album contains both Sandburg's lyrics set to music and musical inspirations from his poems. Now the group has taken a giant leap to the Japanese poet Saigyo, who died in 1185 at the age of 72.

Both poets speak to the group's approach and music. The lyrics create images and a sense of time and space, inspiring with both simplicity and depth.