Biography

Lina Nyberg – biography

Lina Nyberg is one of Sweden’s most creative and innovative jazz singers and contemporary composers. For more than 30 years she has been attracting consistent and widespread attention, mainly in Scandinavia, but also in many other parts of the world.
Lina Nyberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1970 and raised in an artistic home, both parents being artists/illustrators. After gratuating from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm in 1993 she released her first CD Close (Prophone records). A duo recording with late jazz pianist Esbjörn Svensson. An instant success and Swedish jazz classic.

As a solo artist she has released 25 albums. She has received awards as Lars Gullin prize, Swedish Royal Academy of music Jazz prize, but also a Swedish Grammy and the “Gyllene Skivan award” for “jazz album of the year”.

As a composer she has written works on commission from big bands, string quartets, other chamber settings and symphony orchestras. One of her most significant works are the album trilogy with pieces for big band – Sirenades 2014, for stringquartet – Aerials 2016 and for symphony orchestra – Terrestrial 2017. The trilogy confirmed her as one of the most exciting composers in Scandinavia right now connecting the rhythmic and harmonic parts of her European jazz background with a contemporary classical language.

During 2023 she was the composer in residence with Bohuslän Big Band and also performed and conducted her big band music with the Danish Radio Big Band and Odense Jazz Orchestra.

In 2026 Lina introduced a new constellation with trumpetplayer Linnea Jonsson, saxophonist Fredrik Ljungkvist, Josef Kallerdahl bass and Peter Danemo drums. The band features the long-standing rhythm section of bass and drums that have played together—and with Lina—for nearly twenty years. Their almost telepathic interplay creates a solid and inspiring foundation for the ensemble, all highly respected musicians on the Scandinavian jazz scene.

Lina Nyberg has a long experience as a teacher, coaching ensembles, improvisers, composers and of course singers since 1993. She is the Associate Professor in Jazz Voice at Grieg Academy of music in Bergen, Norway. (more about that HERE)

Some reviews on Linas work:

”…playful and whimsical but also thoughtful and profound; carefully arranged, melodic and even sentimental, but also borders fearlessly with the experimental… a most inspiring, profound work of art…” All About Jazz

“Nyberg’s incredible command of the lyrics and music, and compelling musical vision make this ambitious storytelling project riveting.” DownBeat Magazine

” With her arresting delivery, moving, poetic songs and exquisite orchestral arrangements tempts us to listen very carefully. Then, letting our joy guide us to act better, more humanly, even adopt an inclusive feminist approach.” SALT-PEANUTS.EU

“Going from dramatic and cloudy to bright, Nyberg and her band seemed like extensions of one another,
despite the music’s unpredictable idiosyncrasies.” DownBeat Magazine

“This work has a lot to offer, it is so rich in all it’s many parameters that it needs multiple listenings to grasp on the whole. In the end, we are entirely satisfied” Jazz.pt PORTUGAL

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Svensk BIO här:

LINA NYBERG är född i Stockholm 1970.
Hon är utbildad vid Kungliga Musikhögskolan i Stockholm. Under 30 års tid har hon verkat som
jazzsångerska och komponist med turnéer i Sverige och utomlands.
Lina Nyberg har gjort 25 album i eget namn, från debuten med duoskivan Close (1993) med pianisten
Esbjörn Svensson till den senaste PRESENT (Hoob records 2026) med hennes nuvarande band.Med Terrestrial-trilogin 2014-2017, med bland annat Norrlandsoperans symfoniorkester och Vindla
Stringquartet fick hon sitt stora genombrott som komponist.
(för komplett lista över utgivna album se under Discography)
Lina Nyberg har fått ett antal utmärkelser:

Basisten (Svensk Jazz hedersutmärkelse) 2026
Composer in residence Bohuslän Big Band 2022-23
Jan Johansson stipendiet 2021
Stockholms stads kulturstipendium 2021
Gyllene skivan för Terrestrial, 2018 (årets album – tidningen Orkesterjournalen)
Kungliga Musikaliska Akademiens jazzpris 2016
Konstnärsnämndens 10-åriga arbetsstipendium 2006-2016
Lars Gullin priset 2014
Bert Levins minnesfond 2014
Sveriges Radios ”Årets Musiker” Jazzkatten 2011
Riksförbundet Svensk Jazz ”Jazzkannan” 2011
Grammis 1995
Sedan 2020 är Nyberg också ledamot i Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien. Hon är medlem i Föreningen
Svenska Tonsättare (FST) & SKAP.
Lina Nyberg är Associate Professor (Lektor) i jazzsång vid Grieg Academy of Music i Bergen, Norge.
www.linanyberg.se