Live at Kafé Hærverk is the fourth full-length album and second live album of Danish, Oslo-based alto sax player and composer Amalie Dahl (of Ingebrig Håker Flaten (Exit) Knarr, Daughter Daughter, and her own trio) and her quintet Dafnie, now augmented with Swedish pianist Lisa Ullén, since its foundation in 2021 (not including singles and EP’s). The quintet features trumpeter Oscar Andreas Haug, trombonist Jørgen Bjelkerud, double bass player Nicolas Leirtrø, and Polish drummer Patrycja Wybrańczyk (subbing for the Dafnie’s regular drummer Veslemøy Narvesen), and it was recorded at one of Oslo’s most beloved venues in March of 2025, before Dahl conceived the Dafnie EXTENDED, the 12-musician version of Dafnie, recorded four months later, Live at Moldejazz (Sonic Transmissions, 2026).
Dahl first met Ullén when they took part in the 2024 edition of Share Impro in Aarhus, and immediately decided to join forces. Dahl organized two performances of Dafnie with Ullén. The first one was at Kafé Hærverk, and the second one, two days later, at Bullret Jazzklub in Malmö.
Ullén integrated immediately into Dahl’s ambitious sonic aesthetic, which weaves earthy, soulful yet complex harmonies with clear references to post-bop, old-school free jazz and modern contemporary reed-led bands. Ullén’s forceful, sinewy lines consistently enrich and deepen the band’s sound, penetrating the essence of Dahl’s writing with almost telepathic understanding, especially with her solo piano introduction and wise, intricate abstraction of the last piece, «Floating» (from Live at Moldejazz).
Dahl’s Daphnie always relied on deep listening and interactive improvisations around Dahl’s composed cells and melodies, trusting her bandmates to support her most outward flights, and Ullén is a perfect partner for such an adventure, and naturally co-leads Dafnie with Dahl. The album features only four pieces, including «Eco Echoes» from Dafnie’s Står op med solen (Sonic Transmissions/Aguirre, 2024). It certainly calls for expansion of this unique, stimulating collaboration.
Eyal Hareuveni
Amalie Dahl (alto saxophone), Oscar Andreas Haug (trumpet), Jørgen Bjelkerud (trombone), Nicolas Leirtrø (double bass), Patrycja Wybrańczyk (drums), Lisa Ullén (piano)
