RGS kvintett

Jomfruin

RGS kvintett

RGS kvintett

Jomfruin, Lækjargata 4, 101 Reykjavík Directions

Sat 29.08.2026 15:00

RGS Quintet (IS)

Jómfrúin

Saturday 29 August

15:00

Free entrance

RGS Quintet is the brainchild of baritone saxophonist Rósa Guðrún Sveinsdóttir. The quintet performs compositions and arrangements by Rósa written for three horns, drums, and bass — an instrumentation that creates a distinctive sound perhaps most reminiscent of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, which became famous for performing without chordal instruments.

In the group’s music, the horns serve a dual purpose: carrying both melodic lines and harmonic accompaniment, resulting in a versatile and engaging musical approach. The ensemble aims to blend jazz tradition with fresh, energetic arrangements, offering a unique listening experience that highlights the expressive possibilities of horn interplay in a smaller ensemble setting.

The quintet consists of:

Rósa Guðrún Sveinsdóttir — baritone saxophone

Björgvin Ragnar Hjálmarsson — tenor saxophone

Magnús Trygvason Eliassen — drums

Snorri Skúlason — double bass

Tumi Torfason — trumpet

About the musicians

Rósa Guðrún Sveinsdóttir is a singer, saxophonist, and flautist. She released her debut solo album Strengur Stranda in 2014, featuring her original compositions and arrangements for string quintet, rhythm section, and vocals. Her second solo album, Drangar, was released in 2025 as something of a continuation of the first. In this new project, Rósa turns her focus toward the interplay of horns and small ensemble writing.

Björgvin Ragnar Hjálmarsson graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm in spring 2022. In recent years, he has participated in a wide variety of jazz and pop projects, including performances with Stórsveit Reykjavíkur, SJS Big Band, Amabadama, and Júníus Meyvant. In 2025, he represented Iceland on behalf of RÚV in a European Broadcasting Union big band project.

Magnús Trygvason Eliassen is one of Iceland’s most active and respected drummers, known especially for his work with ADHD and Moses Hightower. He is involved in a broad range of projects and performs regularly both in Iceland and abroad.

Snorri Skúlason recently returned from studies in the Netherlands and has quickly made his mark on the Icelandic jazz scene. In recent years he has worked on numerous projects, including his own trio, and collaborations with Ragnheiður Gröndal, Ingi Bjarni Skúlason, and Einar Scheving. He also performs regularly with the Latin band Salsa kommúnan.

Tumi Torfason is a trumpeter and composer deeply involved in the Icelandic music scene. He leads several projects centered around original music and improvisation. In addition to ensembles performing under his own name, he is known for groups such as Tu Ha? Tu Bjö! and his duo with guitarist Bjarni Már Ingólfsson. Tumi studied jazz performance at Tónlistarskóli FÍH and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and this spring completes a master’s degree in instrumental composition at the Iceland University of the Arts

Performers

  • Reykjavík Jazz Festival
    Reykjavík Jazz Festival

    An annual festival featuring nearly 30 concerts and events with over 100 musicians.

  • Rósa Guðrún Sveinsdóttir
    Rósa Guðrún Sveinsdóttir

    Baritone Saxophone

  • Björgvin Ragnar Hjálmarsson
  • Tumi Torfason
    Tumi Torfason
    Tumi Árnason & hljómsveit (IS) Harpa, Norðurljós Laugardagurinn 31. ágúst 19:00 Kvöldpassi Ég vinn nú að umfangsmiklu verki fyrir stóra hljómsveit sem lokaverkefni í tónsmíðanámi í Listaháskóla Íslands, en ég sé fyrir mér að það sé stökkpallur í að þróa verkefnið enn lengra í formi tónleika á tónlistarhátíð og/eða upptakna. Verkið er á mörkum jazz, spuna og nútímatónlistar og verður nokkurs konar frjálslynd spuna furðusveit. Í verkinu er ég að vinna með tvær rytmasveitir, annars vegar rafbassa og trommur og hins vegar kontrabassa og trommur. Ásamt þessum sveitum spilar svo fríður flokkur hljóðfæraleikara, mestmegnis blásara. Væntanleg hljóðfæraskipan er eftirfarandi, með fyrirvara um breytingar: Flautur: Björg Brjánsdóttir Bassa- og kontrabassaklarinett, blokkflautur: John McCowen Alt saxófónn: Sölvi Kolbeinsson Tenór saxófónn: Tumi Árnason Tenór og barítón saxófónar: Björgvin Ragnar Hjálmarsson Trompet: Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson & Tumi Torfason Básúna: Ingi Garðar Erlendsson Fiðla: Hjalti Nordal Kontrabassi: Birgir Steinn Theódórsson Rafbassi: Ingibjörg Turchi Trommur og slagverk: Magnús Trygvason Eliassen & Matthias Hemstock Kvöldpassi er í boði öll kvöld hátíðarinnar í Hörpu en hann veitir aðgang að öllum tónleikum viðkomandi kvölds. Allir tónleikar fara fram í Norðurljósasal á 2. hæð. Ekki er selt inn á staka tónleika á kvölddagskrá í Hörpu. Dagskrá Jazzhátíðar í Hörpu: Laugardagur 31. ágúst - kvöldpassi 8.490 kr. 19:00 - Tumi Árnason og hljómsveit (IS) 20:00 Arnold Ludvig Quintet (IS/FO) 21:00 Sigmar Matthiasson - Útgáfutónleikar (IS) 22:00 Shuteen Erdenebataar Quartet (DE)