Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns
Biographie Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns
Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen
is a groundbreaking and influential Norwegian guitarist, working in a wide range of scenes and genres, being an artist with a take-no-prisoners-attitude no matter the task given.
She was born in Ålesund February 4th 1982, her mother played guitar and piano. Her father played trumpet and flügelhorn, appearing at several recordings from the 70-ies and 80-ies, among them Østerdalsmusikk with Jan Garbarek.
Her work with Hedvig Mollestad Trio, including 7 albums in 10 years, has led to broad international attention and interest. She received the award for This Year's Jazz Talent during Moldejazz in 2009, and on that occasion she founded Hedvig Mollestad Trio. Since 2010, the trio has played hundreds of concerts all over the world. in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, US and Canada. In 2020 she released her first solo record Ekhidna, and received a Norwegian Grammy. Her 2nd solo release, Tempest Revisited, achieved the same award, and her 2021 release with her trio was nominated in the Rock category.
Her release Maternity Beat with Trondheim Jazz Orchestra from 2022 was her most ambitious work at that point, composed for 12 musicians during the pandemic.
David Fricke from Rolling Stone says about the trio: I was immediately struck by the quality and ferocity of her guitar playing and improvisation, and the rhythmic bond of the group. Richard Williams has written liner notes for their live album from 2016 and says: There is always something wild and worthwhile happening in her solos, demonstrating a phenomenal deftness and gift for detail.
The releases of the trio have been reviewed several times in media such as New York Times, Wall Street Journal, MOJO, Uncut, Classic Rock, The Wire, Downbeat, Jazzwise, Jazztimes, Guitar World and Decibel Magazine. Following the release of Ekhidna, she was included in Downbeat’s “25 for the future”, where the article shine a spotlight on ascending artists that potentially will shape the direction of jazz in the years to come.
In recent years, Mollestad has also made her mark as a composer, with several commissioned works. In 2019 she delivered Tingingsverket to Vossajazz, her most recent release Ekhidna. In 2019 she was also awarded the prestigious Musicians Prize at Kongsberg Jazz Festival, performing in 2022 with Weejuns, featuring international acts Ingrid Laubrock and Shazhad Ismaily. Weejuns is Ole Mofjell and Ståle Storløkken. They released their debut album in september 2023 to broad critical acclaim.
In 2023 she was the prestigious Artist In Residence at Molde International Jazz Festival, following pioneers like Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Terje Rypdal, Michael Brecker and Joshua Redman, to mention a few. She curated and played 8 concerts during the 6 days the festival lasted: Liquid Borders (opening concert), guesting with Snarky Puppy, Østerdalsmusikk Revisited, duo with Colin Stetson, Weejuns feat. Trevor Dunn, Cortex w/Hedvig Mollestad, Sky Music - A Tribute To Terje Rypdal, Hedvig Mollestad Trio feat. Snah and Nels Cline, and a solo closing concert in the town church. Read a full review of the week by Nick Hasted here.
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, and 17th April their next release is expected: Bitches Blues.
