FLYING JAZZMAN ORGAN QUINTET … PLAYS A “DOUBLE-JIMMY TRIBUTE”

The elegant and vibrant Flying Jazzman Organ Quintet opens Vinterjazz 2026 at JIVE with a tribute concert to the two great masters of the Hammond organ: Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff. These legends immortalised the instrument with wildly swinging, sophisticated jazz of the highest quality. If you’ve never explored their music, this concert is the perfect opportunity — the entire evening is dedicated to their legacy.

The main instrument of the night, the Hammond organ, is played by Jan Nielsen, who also leads the group. He performs on an original American Hammond with a classic Leslie speaker — delivering the unmistakable swirling sound and rich tone that made the instrument famous. Opportunities to hear a real vintage Hammond played by a present-day master are rare, but this is one of them.

Jan Nielsen, who is also a trained pilot, spent many years living in the United...

FLYING JAZZMAN ORGAN QUINTET … PLAYS A “DOUBLE-JIMMY TRIBUTE”

The elegant and vibrant Flying Jazzman Organ Quintet opens Vinterjazz 2026 at JIVE with a tribute concert to the two great masters of the Hammond organ: Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff. These legends immortalised the instrument with wildly swinging, sophisticated jazz of the highest quality. If you’ve never explored their music, this concert is the perfect opportunity — the entire evening is dedicated to their legacy.

The main instrument of the night, the Hammond organ, is played by Jan Nielsen, who also leads the group. He performs on an original American Hammond with a classic Leslie speaker — delivering the unmistakable swirling sound and rich tone that made the instrument famous. Opportunities to hear a real vintage Hammond played by a present-day master are rare, but this is one of them.

Jan Nielsen, who is also a trained pilot, spent many years living in the United States, performing in the right places — New Orleans, Louisiana, and Alabama. There he absorbed the energetic, outgoing style of jazz played by Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, and, of course, “the two Jimmys,” whose spirits hover as the musical patrons of tonight’s concert. It’s worth mentioning that Jan is also an excellent vocalist — and he may well treat the audience to a song or two.

Joining him on tenor saxophone is one of Danish jazz’s great masters, Jan Harbeck. Known for his deep dedication to the classic swinging sound, Harbeck has received multiple awards and has been named “PING of the Year” in several jazz categories. He and Jan Nielsen are a perfectly matched pair. The group also includes trumpeter Storm Kleist, a lively and swinging musician with roots in the Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and the high-energy band Jordan’s Drive — a player with real fire in his horn.

The rhythm section features guitarist Bo Møller, a true “musician’s musician” who elevates every ensemble he plays with, and drummer Haim Peskoff, an internationally acclaimed player who has lived and worked in New York and is now based in Copenhagen.

Experience the atmosphere of a golden jazz era with the Flying Jazzman Organ Quintet — when the sound of Hammond organs and their rotating Leslie speakers ruled supreme, and deep, driving swing was the hallmark of the music. The group is dedicated to keeping the soulful, funky spirit of classic organ jazz alive....

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