A new Norwegian jazz label dedicated to music that is open, resonant, and full of heart.
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Svale Records is a new Norwegian jazz label based in Oslo.
The label was founded out of a desire to create space for strong artistic voices at the intersection of tradition and the present. Rooted in Norway’s jazz heritage while looking toward the international scene, Svale curates releases that emphasize tone, presence, heart and musical integrity.
Like the swallow in flight, we seek music that carries - free yet purposeful - creating connections across places and listeners. Svale Records is a home for Norwegian jazz in motion.
Svale Records is a part of Sounds Like Gold.
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Svale Records aims to work closely with its artists throughout the entire process, from development and recording to release and communication. The goal is to elevate the music together and to present projects that both challenge and welcome the listener.
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Primarily Norwegian jazz artists, driven by heart and artistic conviction.
Aileron. Photo by Eir-Jørgen Bue
Aileron
Aileron is a new all-star jazz quartet, featuring some of the most prolific and vibrant artists from the Berlin and Trondheim scenes. Their debut album will be released on Svale Records in November 2026, and Aileron is all set for a flying start of 2027 with concerts at clubs and festivals around Norway.
In May 2025, Aileron played their premiering concert at Jazzfest in Trondheim. Within three days the quartet — who met for the very first time — had recorded a full album and given a world premiere of Espen’s newly written music. For Aileron, he has composed seven pieces drawing on influences from Brad Mehldau, Gerald Clayton, Keith Jarrett, and Jan Garbarek—energetic and lyrical jazz firmly rooted in the Afro-American jazz tradition, while gazing toward the contemporary European jazz scene. His music leaves ample space for attentive and playful interaction, and for individual performances at the very highest level. Aileron—featuring four outstanding soloists —nonetheless sounds like a seasoned and rock-solid band. This is a group that truly brings out the best in one another.
Single out October 30, 2026
Album out November 27, 2026Emma Rawicz, saxophones
Emma Rawicz (24) is a British saxophonist based in Berlin and one of the rising stars on the German label ACT. She has released three critically acclaimed albums, received the Parliament Jazz Award twice, was awarded the Silver Medal of Excellence from the Royal Academy of Music—the only jazz student ever to do so—been featured in DownBeat, performed as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra and the SWR Big Band, and leads her own 20-piece jazz orchestra.
Kertu Aer, bass
Kertu Aer (29) is a bassist from Estonia, based in Trondheim and active in a wide range of bands. In recent years, she has toured extensively in Scandinavia, Estonia, and Germany, performing at festivals such as jazzahead! in Germany and Inntöne in Austria. Kertu received the Young Jazz Talent award at the Estonian Jazz Awards in 2024 and was named Young Jazz Musician of the Year the same year as the winner of Jazzintro with the band Lightning Trio.
Espen Berg, piano
Pianist and composer Espen Berg (43), based in Trondheim, has released 16 albums as a leader and toured internationally since 2003. With Espen Berg Trio, he has sold out concert halls in Tokyo, Kyoto, Guangzhou, Athens, and the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. The trio’s music was included in DownBeat’s list of the best releases of 2019, and their fifth album is forthcoming. Espen has written commissioned works for Trondheim Jazz Orchestra and all the major jazz festivals in Norway. He was appointed to official Steinway Artist in 2023 and has gained international recognition for his solo performances.
Håkon Mjåset Johansen, drums
Håkon Mjåset Johansen (51), based in Trondheim, has been a central drummer on the Norwegian jazz scene since 1998. He has won five Spellemann Awards, performed at the Kongsberg Jazz Festival with his own quartet featuring, among others, Chick Corea, toured internationally with Trondheim Jazz Orchestra & Chick Corea, and is known from bands such as Urban Connection, Come Shine, Motif, Oslo Jazz Ensemble, Arild Andersen Group, Håvard Wiik Trio, and John Pål Inderberg Trio. Håkon has also performed with Michael Brecker, Jan Garbarek, Mark Turner, and Bobby McFerrin, and has contributed to more than 150 album releases.
Like the swallow in flight, we seek music that carries - free yet purposeful – creating connections across places and listeners. Svale Records is a home for Norwegian jazz in motion.
Siril Malmedal Hauge & Kjetil Mulelid
In recent years, Siril Malmedal Hauge and Kjetil Mulelid have established themselves as strong voices in the Norwegian music scene, with extensive touring, Spellemann Award (Norwegian Grammy) nominations, and critically acclaimed releases praised by international press.
Together and individually, they have emerged as distinctive artists of their generation. They have collaborated in various constellations since 2013 and have performed at festivals and clubs throughout Norway, including through Siril’s solo projects.
Their duo collaboration began in autumn 2022, and since then they have continued to develop their musical interplay, shared references, and artistic energy through performances in Norway, Romania, France, Portugal, South Korea, China, and Japan.
Their music is a mix of original songs and new covers of well-known cover songs, characterized by Hauge's clear and expressive voice and Kjetil's quirky piano playing. It is music in a catchy landscape, but with a good dose of resistance and surprises that take the listener into their musical universe.
Single out now!Siril Malmedal Hauge
& Kjetil Mulelid
Where Will You Go
Single out now!Siril Malmedal Hauge
& Kjetil Mulelid
feat. Mathias Eick
Cranes
Album out now!Siril Malmedal Hauge
& Kjetil Mulelid
I Remember Oranges
Espen Berg Trio
Espen Berg Trio is an award-winning piano trio from Norway. Outselling concert halls all over the world, the trio referred to as one of the best trios in existence today by Jazz Journal has already made a mark outside their home country.
Their music might be reminiscent of that of Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, Shai Maestro or Tigran Hamasyan, but above all it’s a personal addition to the legacy of the piano trio and to the evolution of the Nordic jazz scene, featuring a compelling combination of strong melodies and complex rhythmics, immense technical abilities and a highly engaging interplay.
Espen Berg, piano and compositions // Bárður Reinert Poulsen, bass // Simon Albertsen, drums
Single out now!Espen Berg Trio
Rue Saint-Michel
Single out now!Espen Berg Trio
Russians (Sting)
Album out now!Espen Berg Trio
Entropies
Espen Berg Trio. Photo by Leikny Havik Skjærseth