A vibrant tribute to two jazz legends. Hotel Admiral’s opening concert at the Jazz Festival breathes new life into the classic saxophone trio format—made world-famous by American tenor giant Sonny Rollins.
In the 1960s, Sonny Rollins was a frequent guest in Copenhagen, often performing with Danish bass legend Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHØP). Their collaboration helped cement Copenhagen’s status as a European jazz capital, while NHØP placed Denmark firmly on the international jazz map with his virtuosic, melodic, and uncompromising playing.
Claus Waidtløw is one of Denmark’s most prominent saxophonists—a Danish Music Award winner (2015) and nominated as Musician of the Year (2025). He has performed with international jazz icons such as Toots Thielemans, John Scofield, Eliane Elias, Steve Swallow, Christian McBride, Jeff Ballard, and Kurt Elling.
Thomas Fonnesbæk is regarded as one of Europe’s leading bassists and a recipient of the Ben Webster ...

A vibrant tribute to two jazz legends. Hotel Admiral’s opening concert at the Jazz Festival breathes new life into the classic saxophone trio format—made world-famous by American tenor giant Sonny Rollins.
In the 1960s, Sonny Rollins was a frequent guest in Copenhagen, often performing with Danish bass legend Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHØP). Their collaboration helped cement Copenhagen’s status as a European jazz capital, while NHØP placed Denmark firmly on the international jazz map with his virtuosic, melodic, and uncompromising playing.
Claus Waidtløw is one of Denmark’s most prominent saxophonists—a Danish Music Award winner (2015) and nominated as Musician of the Year (2025). He has performed with international jazz icons such as Toots Thielemans, John Scofield, Eliane Elias, Steve Swallow, Christian McBride, Jeff Ballard, and Kurt Elling.
Thomas Fonnesbæk is regarded as one of Europe’s leading bassists and a recipient of the Ben Webster Prize. With technical mastery, melodic imagination, and a strong personal voice, he carries forward the legacy of NHØP. Janus Templeton completes the trio with his powerful, dynamic, and deeply swinging drumming.
The repertoire ranges from classic Sonny Rollins compositions to carefully selected standards from his iconic catalogue—interpreted with respect for tradition and a fresh, contemporary edge.
Join us in kicking off the Copenhagen Jazz Festival with this extraordinary concert experience—filled with intensity, swing, and interplay at the highest level—set on Hotel Admiral’s beautiful terrace overlooking the Opera House and Ofelia Plads.
A vivid, relevant, and powerful tribute to two of the greatest figures in jazz history....

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