Junk Jewelry

We Are is an Oslo-based trio consisting of Karl Hjalmar Nyberg on saxophone and keyboards, Aaron Mandelmann on double bass and Axel Skalstad on drums.

Despite their young age, Nyberg, Mandelmann and Skalstad have established themselves as critically acclaimed and important figures in the Norwegian jazz scene. They are known from projects such as the Norwegian Grammy nominated Megalodon Collective, Krokofant, Kalle, Trondheim Jazzorkester and several other ensembles.

Their different voices as performers and composers combine to create music that unashamedly ranges from heartbreaking dance band saxophone to prog rock and on to free improvisation.

Intuitive melodies are juxtaposed with complex rhythms, the distinction between acoustic and electric sounds is blurred, and the result is something fresh, unique and expressive. Here we find advanced melodies with complex rhythms, but which retain a playful exploratory quality. The listener can enjoy the journey the musicians follow without becoming enmired in intellectual analysis. There are elements of melodic dreamjazz, tinged with retro colouring, uneasy nostalgia, unleashed saxophone, grooving bass and drums that speak multiple musical languages, all combining and enmeshing themselves to become a single entity. We are ... are an extraordinary machine.