Caroline Bugala er blandt de mest markante europæiske jazzviolinister i sin generation og står som en naturlig arvtager til den store tradition efter Didier Lockwood, Stuff Smith og Svend Asmussen.

Med en sjælden kombination af virtuositet, swing, rytmisk præcision og kunstnerisk frihed har hun skabt et personligt og stærkt genkendeligt musikalsk udtryk, hvor violinens historie møder et moderne, åbent improvisationssprog.

Uddannet fra konservatoriet i Lyon med guldmedalje i klassisk violin fandt Caroline Bugala for alvor sin kunstneriske retning gennem mødet med Didier Lockwood. Her voksede hendes dybe forbindelse til improvisation, groove og den levende jazztradition frem — elementer som i dag præger hele hendes musikalske univers.

Hendes spil bevæger sig ubesværet mellem jazz, sigøjnerswing, moderne improvisationsmusik og lyriske, næsten filmiske klanguniverser. Hun har optrådt på internationale scener og festivaler i Europa, USA, Mellemøsten, Afrika og Asien og samarbejdet med musikere som Tim Kliphuis, Stochelo Rosenberg, Hugo Lippi og Diego Imbert.

Ved koncerten på Drop Inn den 9. juli får hun selskab af to af de stærkeste profiler på den internationale jazzscene.

Thomas Fonnesbæk regnes blandt Europas førende jazzbassister og er kendt for sit virtuose, melodiske og dybt personlige spil på kontrabassen. Han har samarbejdet med kunstnere som Justin Kauflin, Didier Lockwood, Enrico Pieranunzi og Sinne Eeg og modtaget Ben Webster Prisen for sit markante bidrag til jazzen. Med stor musikalitet og teknisk overskud formår han at forene nordisk sensibilitet med international jazztradition.

Den cubanskfødte percussionist og vokalist Eliel Lazo er internationalt anerkendt som en af sin generations mest eksplosive og virtuose percussionister. Med rødder i Havana og base i København har han arbejdet med navne som Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Michel Camilo og Chucho Valdés. Hans spil er dybt forankret i den afro-cubanske tradition og kombinerer rå rytmisk energi med elegance, overskud og karisma.

Sammen skaber trioen et intenst og levende musikalsk møde, hvor jazzviolin, kontrabas og percussion smelter sammen i et frit, virtuost og grænseløst improvisatorisk univers.

Caroline Bugala – Violin
Thomas Fonnesbæk – Bas
Eliel Lazo – Percussion

Caroline Bugala stands among the most compelling European jazz violinists of her generation, carrying forward the great lineage of Didier Lockwood, Stuff Smith and Svend Asmussen.

Blending virtuosity, rhythmic precision, deep swing and fearless improvisation, she has developed a highly personal artistic voice where the rich heritage of jazz violin meets a modern and adventurous musical language.

Originally trained at the Conservatory of Lyon, where she was awarded a Gold Medal in classical violin, Bugala found her true artistic direction through her encounter with Didier Lockwood. It was here that her strong connection to groove, spontaneity and the living tradition of jazz improvisation fully emerged — elements that continue to shape her musical identity today.

Her playing moves effortlessly between jazz, gypsy swing, contemporary improvisation and lyrical, cinematic soundscapes. She has performed on international stages and festivals throughout Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, collaborating with artists such as Tim Kliphuis, Stochelo Rosenberg, Hugo Lippi and Diego Imbert.

For this special concert at Drop Inn on July 9th, she is joined by two outstanding voices of the international jazz scene.

Thomas Fonnesbæk is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading jazz bassists, celebrated for his virtuosity, lyrical approach and deeply personal sound on the double bass. He has collaborated with artists including Justin Kauflin, Didier Lockwood, Enrico Pieranunzi and Sinne Eeg, and was awarded the prestigious Ben Webster Prize for his significant contribution to jazz. His playing combines Nordic sensitivity with the power and freedom of modern jazz.

Cuban-born percussionist and vocalist Eliel Lazo is internationally acclaimed as one of the most explosive and innovative percussionists of his generation. Born in Havana and now based in Copenhagen, he has worked with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Michel Camilo and Chucho Valdés. Deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions, his playing merges dazzling rhythmic energy with elegance, charisma and extraordinary musicality.

Together, the trio creates a vibrant and spontaneous musical encounter where jazz violin, double bass and percussion meet in a fearless, virtuosic and deeply interactive improvisational universe.