WHATEVER HAPPENS DON’T BE YOURSELF – new album announced

Photo: Gaute Singstad

Is it Jazz? Records kicks off 2026 with the release of the 5th album from Bergen-based jazz band Whatever Happens Don’t Be Yourself. It’s a band mixed of the older and younger generation from the Bergen jazz scene.

“Tales of No Consequence” will be out on February the 27th, and the first single from the album, “What’s My Choices?” is out now

This is the party you don’t want to miss, no matter what your musical preferences are. The mix of catchy and almost pop-like melodies with explosive, hard-hitting impro noise is captivating. It’s a thrilling battle of two opposites you can’t take your ears off!
 
Formed in 2015 by Nils Are Drønen, the 9-piece orchestra Whatever Happens Don’t Be Yourself has from the start been an improvisational hotbed for both the young and upcoming musicians and more seasoned players in the Bergen jazz scene. They are now set to release their 5^th album, ‘Tales of No Consequence’.
 
For this project, Drønen has brought together a band of nine very different musicians: percussionist Snorre Bjerck with a background from world music (Mari Boine, Sainko Namchylac and Jon Balke), four of the hottest young musicians from the Norwegian jazz/impro scene – Isach Skeidsvoll, Aksel Røed, Rasmus Lagerberg and Torkil Hjelle (General Post Office, Paal Nilsen-Love), guitarist Mads Berven (Kniv og Taffel), Barcelona-based trumpeter Audun Waage (Jo Jo Mayer), and the Norwegian Grammy nominated vocalist Nelly Moar.
 
This live performance by WHDBY is a powerful statement of free music combined with written material. The live sound of WHDBY is inspired by the free spirit of artists such as Art Ensemble of Chicago, Charles Mingus, Alice Coltrane. WHDBY has played at the AMR Jazz Festival in Geneva and at the Nattjazz Festival in Bergen to name but a few.

TRACKLIST

1. Opus X
2. What’s My Chances?
3. Stormy Nights
4. Where the Sky is the Highest
5. Seventy-Two
6. Green Candela Blues
7. Tales of No Consequences
8. School Bus