VETRARJAZZ 2026 – Elin Brimheim Heinesen Band (FO)

In the mid-seventies, Elin was involved in founding the first jazz club in Tórshavn – Havnar Jazzfelag. She served on the board of the jazz club for several years and volunteered in various roles, such as organizer, bar attendant, doorman, ticket seller, cleaning staff, and more.

Havnar Jazzfelag was a legendary club, initiated by Kristian Blak. In the early years, the club was housed in the old B36 building in Gundadalur, later in Gamla Klubba (the Old Club, which has since been demolished), and even later in Veitsluhøllin (the Banquet Hall of the Tórshavn Club). In the early 1980s, the jazz club was allowed to borrow the old – now demolished – Perlan for its events, where Trappan in Vágsbotnur is now located.

It wasn’t only jazz that was played at the club, but all types of rhythmic music. The jazz club became a well-known place that many Faroese musicians still remember with gratitude, because the club offered them an opportunity to play and listen to music that was rarely performed in the Faroe Islands at that time – at least not regularly. The jazz club also hosted many foreign musicians in the Faroes. This provided significant inspiration for Faroese musicians, including Elin – and had a considerable impact on her musical career.

Elin herself performed several times at the jazz club in the 70s and early 80s, among others with her uncle, Svenn Brimheim, where she sang jazz and blues from The Real Book.

Elin also sang and played folk music during this time with her classmates from the Studentaskúlin í Hoydølum (Upper Secondary School in Hoydalar) – Ívar Bærentsen on guitar, and Bergur Hansen on flute. She herself occasionally played the piano during performances. They performed several times at the jazz club in the old B36 building and in the Old Club.

She also started composing her own music during this period – mainly folk music inspired by jazz and blues.

In 1977, Elin sang on the first ever jazz record made in the Faroe Islands “Jazz í Føroyum 1” (Jazz in the Faroes) (TUTL HJF 1) with the song “Hundasjúku Blues” (Hang-over Blues), composed by her class together with their teacher, Kristian Blak. The recording took place in the studio of the legendary music producer Milson Zachariassen, located in his basement.

For Vetrarjazz 2026, one of the events celebrating the 50th anniversary of Havnar Jazzfelag, Elin has assembled a group of musicians who will play with her on Wednesday, January 28 at 8:00 PM in Blábar.

Eyðun Mohr Hansen on guitar, Edvard Nyholm Debess on bass, Inga Laksáfoss Simonsen on piano, Rógvi á Rógvu on drums, and Elin herself singing.

At the concert, Elin will perform some of the jazz songs she used to sing in the jazz club in the 70s and 80s.

Buy a JazzPazz on blabar.fo

Norðurlandahúsið
Tórshavnar kommuna
Eiðis kommuna
Vága kommuna
Runavíkar kommuna
Mentanargrunnur Landsins
Mentamálaráðið
Hiddenfjord
OY Brewery
Økistónar
Koda
Gramex
Auto Taxi
Hotel Hafnia
Hotel Tórshavn
Nordic Culture Point
NATA

See more at Whatson.fo