”I think it is important to preserve and spread all kind of music, not particularly jazz. All music brings people together and personally I am into many types of music. Our jazz fsetival in Kardamili always include blues, different kind of Greek music, rockn roll, klezmer and many others - the main thing is jazz.”

Bjarne S Aaserod:

Kardamili International Jazz Festival

Kardamili International Jazz Festival is hosted by the Sarpsborg Jazz Club in Norway and the Beer bar 1866 in Kardamili, Greece in cooperation with Asker Jazz Club and the New Orleans Workshop Jazz Club in Norway. The first festival was held in 2014 organized by Sarpsborg Jazzclub and Panagiotis Katsoleas. The musicians were mostly Norwegians and Greeks. Today, the festival has become International and musicians come from many different countries and so do the audience.

(Photo: Bjarne Aaserod of Kardamyli International Jazz Festival)

Kardamili is a small, charming village with about 400 inhabitants, located in The Mani, Peloponnese Greece. Almost all the concerts are for free, but we do send the basket around for donations. Kardamili has many attractions like beaches, gorges and plenty of restaurants and tavernas with wonderful food. Kardamili and its surrounding area is a perfect spot for hiking and outdoors activities. Festival’s manager Bjarne Aaserod talks about the Jazz, Festival, Kardamili, and Norway Jazz scene.

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What music moment changed your life the most? 

That the world is much more connected than people think - so much music from different countries have great influence on each other. No music moments changed my life the most - other experiences.

How did the idea of Kardamili International Jazz Festival come about? What touched you from Kardamyli (and Mani’s area)?

I was working in Kardamili for a Norwegian travel company and when the Beer Bar 1866 got a piano, I invited some music friends from Norway down to play, it was very nice and the idea of a festival come up. I had been working with music all my life, so why not doing a festival and I got free flight tickets for a few Norwegian musicians from the company I worked for. The first year it was mostly Norwegian musicians and a few Greeks. Now 11 years later we have musicians from 15 different countries and audience from all over the world.

What characterize Sarpsborg Jazzklubb and Kardamili International Jazz Festival’s philosophy and mission?

The mission of Sarpsborg Jazzclub is to bring people together through music and that goes for Kardamili also. The nice thing about Kardamili is that we bring people from all over the world together in a fantastic location and beatiful atmoshere.

”In Norway we have a very good musical education for jazz musicians that brings us new and young jazzmusicians all the time. Jazz music has been very improtant in European music history and I think it will continue.” (Bjarne Aaserod of Kardamili International Jazz Festival / Photo © by Giannis Avrameas)

Are there any specific memories or highlights from Sarpsborg Jazzklubb and Kardamili International Jazz Festival that you would like to tell us about?!

Highlights - in Kardamili when we celebrated the 10 year of the festival in 2024 with a big concert at the harbour. Sarpsborg Jazzclub started out in 2007 and in 2020 with got the Culture Award from the municipality of Sarpsborg

Why do you think that the Jazz music continues to generate such a devoted following in Europe (especial in Norway and Greece)?

In Norway we have a very good musical education for jazz musicians that brings us new and young jazzmusicians all the time. Jazz music has been very improtant in European music history and I think it will continue.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I do not miss anything. I am very happy about how it is and I do not fear for the future either.

As a club and festival manager. What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

My most important lesson I have learned as a manager for a club and different festivals - do not spend more money that you have. Have controll on your economy.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the jazz music? What is the role of music in today’s society?

I think it is important to preserve and spread all kind of music, not particularly jazz. All music brings people together and personally I am into many types of music. Our jazz fsetival in Kardamili always include blues, different kind of Greek music, rockn roll, klezmer and many others - the main thing is jazz.

Kardamili International Jazz Festival - Home

(Bjarne S Aaserod, Kardamili International Jazz Festival’s parade / Photo © by Ian Cook)