I consider myself pretty cool when it comes to music. I grew up with
punk, lived through new wave and pop, and have settled down to rock and
electronica – primarily Scandinavian. My radio is tuned to Danish Radio’s P3
(mainstream) and P6 (DAB channel, indie and rock). And hubby and I are regulars
at Vega (Copenhagen’s finest concert venue). Not bad for a couple of 45 year
olds, right? And, hey, we even have a rock star friend and often get to hang
out backstage! 
Magtens Korridorer at Pumpehuset, January
2013
But I’m beginning to have an identity crisis. Perhaps it’s a mid-life
crisis? You see, I’ve started listening to jazz. Is that a sign that I’m
getting old? Like, really old? I suppose it’s not really so strange, as my Mum and Dad are huge
traditional and New Orleans style jazz fans, so I’ve had plenty of
exposure. Hubby and I took my parents to see Mads Mathias – a young Danish jazz
crooner/saxonfonist/multi-talented musician – a couple of years ago, when we was
performing Christmas jazz (together with the Magnus Hjorth Trio). And he blew
us all away – literally.
Mads Mathias with Magnus Hjorth Trio at Jazzhouse
Montmartre, December 2012
He also plays with the band Six City Stompers. Well, we bought some of Mads’ CDs as a
gift this Christmas for my Dad – and ended up buying a copy for ourselves. And
now I’ve been to see him live again. Ummm, okay, make that twice within the last month!
Yep, Mads Mathias really is that
good. Even if you don’t like
jazz! Oh, and he recently won “Best New Danish Jazz Artist” at the Danish Music
Awards…
Mads Mathias at Huset i Magstræde, January
2013
If you’d like to catch him yourself, he’ll be playing along with DR’s Big Band at Koncerthuset, Copenhagen on 22 March. In the
meanwhile, here’s a taster from his album “Free Falling”. Enjoy!
Rock on! Or should that be “Ah-one, ah-two, ah-one, two, three, four!”?
Diane 