DJÄSS was formed in 2010 by Karl Olgeirsson (piano), Kristinn Snær Agnarsson (drums), and Jón Rafnsson (bass). Its first 10 years together, the trio performed under the name Hot Eskimos. They made a name for themselves with their jazz arrangements of Icelandic rock, punk, and pop music. These were the kinds of songs on their first CD “Songs from the Top of the World” (2011). Critics gave it top reviews. This disc is now also available on vinyl. Their second CD “We ride Polar Bears” (2015) struck a new note. In addition to Icelandic songs, you can also listen to several original and foreign songs.
The Trio´s fourth album, entitled “DJÄSS”, containing 8 original songs was released in 2022 and is available on both CD and vinyl.
DJÄSS are currently working on a new album to be released in fall 2024.
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Jón Rafnsson (1958)
has been on the music scene since in his teens. Having taught himself how to play the electric bass, Jón started his career in the mid 70s by playing with rock and dance bands around the south coast of Iceland. He then began classical training on violin, piano and double bass and continued his double bass studies with Professor Thorvald Fredin in Stockholm, Sweden. Jón is also a qualified music teacher with a degree from the Stockholm Institut of Musicpedagogy (SMI). Since returning to Iceland from Sweden in 1990, Jón has been very active in the musical life of Iceland.
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Karl Olgeirsson (1972)
At the age of 5 he was already playing instruments and writing music. Since high-school he´s been doing it professionally. He has held positions as a Music Director, a composer, a multi-instrumentalist, producer and arranger and has worked with tons of artists such as Björk, Petula Clark and Sissel Kirkebø. His solo album, Mitt bláa hjarta (My Blue Heart) was nominated in three categories at the Icelandic Music Awards and won two, the best jazz album and composer of the year 2019.
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Kristinn Snær Agnarsson (1977)
got his first snare drum at the age of 4 and after that there was no turning back. He studied music in Sweden, – at Vasaskolan (The Vasa Music Institut) in Gävle and at Skurup Folkhögskola (The Skurup High School of Music). After moving back to Iceland in 2000 he has been very active on the music scene, working with all the leading Icelandic artists and is currently touring the world with John Grant.