ADHD (50. Leipziger Jazztage)

The Icelandic artists of never-boring continuity. An all-encompassing ritual that transcends genre boundaries

Hyperactive, innovative, and unpredictable? The Icelandic band ADHD truly lives up to its name. Flirting with clichés, they treat one another with unconditional trust.

Influenced by the energy of rock and melancholic folk sounds, the four-piece jazz collective—which formed in 2008 after attending a festival together—thrills fans around the world. Just one year after their formation, their debut album *ADHD* was named “Jazz Album of the Year” at the 2009 Icelandic Music Awards.

Their unique, purely instrumental sound emerges from a sensitive interplay in which the band members respond to even the slightest musical cues from one another. “You can call it jazz, but you don’t have to,” pianist Thómas Jónsson once said. And he hits the nail on the head: Indeed, numerous influences converge in the quartet’s music. Miles Davis is just as much a part of it as Radiohead, Steely Dan, or Dr. John.

Ómar Guðjónsson, the band’s guitarist, once described the collective as a “close-knit family.” During their performances, they say they rely entirely on the atmosphere and consequently do without a setlist. You can listen to the music with anticipation, as it seems to respond delicately to every mood in the room.

Here, every instrument speaks its own language, on equal footing. Meticulously coordinated, their tones flow seamlessly into one another. What remains is a soundscape that invites you to close your eyes and let yourself be carried away.

(Luca Kropp)