– I love Kongsberg Jazz!

Einar Øyen is a name that this year's festival attendees should take note of. He may be less visible behind the drum kit, but his steady rhythm reveals his presence. During this year's festival, he will perform 14 times in various constellations.

– Such a tight schedule requires a lot of planning. It wouldn't have worked if we hadn't thought about it six months ago. And then it's important to have a calendar that shows point by point what I'm going to do at any given time. Then I can relax a little more, says the young athlete.

Einar has played drums for half his life. He started his career at the Boys' Music and Culture School. However, it wasn't until he started high school that he realized that he was meant to be a drummer, because everything else seemed boring. Then he had to go "all in" and start practicing properly.

– The motivation is that if I don't stick to it, I won't make it, Øyen emphasizes.

Einar has just finished the Music Program at Kongsberg High School, and the graduation concert was “super fun.” He found it rewarding to be able to choose his own repertoire, including Chick Corea’s “Now He Sings Now He Sobs,” which was a technically demanding song.

When the Jazz is over, he will first travel to the Molde Jazz Festival, where he will play with a new quartet. After the summer, he will start the jazz course at Sund Folk High School, which he is really looking forward to. But he promises that he will return to Kongsberg and jazz.

When asked what Kongsberg Jazz Festival means to him, the answer is that the festival is a central gathering point for him in several ways. First and foremost because he was born and raised here in the city. This means he meets many famous people during the festival. In recent years, it has also become an important place where he has discovered new music. He refers to last year's concert with Zanussi 4 where his role model, Hans Hulbækmo, played drums. Other role models he mentions are Knut Aalefjær and the British James Maddren. The latter is, by the way, a very popular jazz drummer throughout Europe, Øyen emphasizes.

During the interview, an audience member breaks in with the following comment: – Very good! I didn't see much of you, but I heard you! You're tight, and it swings a lot. Then I feel like dancing, and then it's good!

We agree with the audience's statement!

Photo: Birgit Fostervold, Tommy Johansen, Glen Darrud, Inger Marie McQuown, Solveig Tomter Bjørnsen, Espen Sandengen and Magnus Stivi – click for more pictures