Amalie Dahl is a Danish-born saxophonist, composer, and bandleader based in Oslo, Norway. Known for her distinctive sound and strong artistic integrity, she has established herself as a compelling voice on the Nordic and European jazz scenes, both as an improviser and composer.
Dahl is educated at the Jazz Department at NTNU in Trondheim (2021). In recent years, she has been involved in numerous projects and releases, including two critically acclaimed albums with her quintet Amalie Dahl’s Dafnie, which won “Single of the Year” at the Danish Music Awards Jazz 2024. The band has toured extensively across Europe since 2021.
In 2024, Dahl released the album Breaking/Building Habits on Sauajazz. In this project, she explores, together with three collaborators, the relationship between composition and improvisation, drawing inspiration from artists such as Anthony Braxton and Tim Berne, adding elements of energetic noise, rock, and contemporary music. In 2025, she expanded Dafnie into Dafnie EXTENDED, adding seven musicians and presenting the project at major festivals such as Moldejazz and Jazzfest Berlin.
In addition to leading her own projects, Dahl is an active member of ensembles including Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (Exit) Knarr, Treen, and Dahl/Dalen/Søvik.
“(…) Her quintet’s lively spirit and tuneful orientation falls in line with bands like Cortex and Friends & Neighbors. But this LP, her first as a bandleader, also displays Dahl’s strengths as an arranger and a composer. Each tune has a distinct character, drawing upon the ensemble’s strengths, such as Jørgen Bjelkerud’s wars, expressive trombone and Veslemøy Narvesen’s non-ironically deployed musical saw.” – Bill Meyer, The Wire, July 6th 2022
“Dahl is a musician that has a lot to say and knows how to say it, loud and clear and with infectious, playful energy. She is well-versed with old-school free jazz and modern contemporary reed-leaded bands but has an independent voice of her own. And she is also a clever and imaginative composer.”
– Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts, May 19th 2022