A Powerful Beginning!
The winter season of 2026 has opened with a remarkable weekend of sold-out concerts across two of Oslo’s most distinctive jazz stages, as Jazz Music Norway launched the season with a tribute to the legendary Nina Simone.
The opening began at Club Gustav at Amerikalinjen, where the concert series Jazz Nights at Club Gustav presented Felix Peikli & Friends feat. Sisi Sumbundu in the program Remembering Nina Simone. Across four performances, two shows on Friday and two on Saturday, audiences filled the intimate club to experience a powerful homage to one of the most influential voices in jazz history.
With Sisi Sumbundu’s expressive vocals at the forefront, the ensemble explored Simone’s iconic repertoire, blending jazz, soul, and blues with the emotional depth and intensity that defined her artistry. The atmosphere at Club Gustav proved once again why the venue has become one of Oslo’s most sought-after spaces for close and memorable jazz performances.
The weekend culminated on Sunday evening at Chat Noir Theater, where the concert series Jazz Noir continued the tribute with the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra with Felix Peikli feat. Sisi Sumbundu, also performing Remembering Nina Simone.
On the grand stage of Chat Noir, the music of Nina Simone was reimagined through rich orchestral arrangements performed by the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra, creating a larger symphonic landscape around the songs that have become part of the global jazz canon. Once again, Sisi Sumbundu’s commanding voice brought Simone’s music to life, connecting the intimate storytelling of her songs with the power of a full jazz orchestra.
Together, these concerts formed a cohesive tribute across two venues and two concert formats, from the intimate club stage to the theatrical concert hall, celebrating the enduring legacy of Nina Simone and marking an inspiring start to the 2026 winter season.
More concerts, tributes, and special collaborations are planned throughout the season as Jazz Music Norway continues its mission to present world-class jazz experiences in Oslo.
