Mette Henriette is a Sámi-Norwegian saxophonist, composer and improviser working across creative disciplines.

In 2015, at the age of 24, Mette Henriette was the first artist to debut with a double album on ECM Records. Produced by Manfred Eicher and graced with a portrait by Anton Corbijn, the album includes 90 minutes of music for her trio and large ensemble consisting of jazz, classical and tango musicians.

Having toured internationally for more than a decade, Mette Henriette is a sought-after performer whose presence on stage unites her capacity as an improviser, composer and bandleader — all while challenging the traditional concert format with her eclectic experience in other creative fields. Her performances and stage works have been commissioned and presented by leading festivals and art institutions worldwide including Barbican Hall, Berliner Festspiele, Dark Mofo, documenta14, Moldejazz, Musée d’Orsay, Munch Museum, Ultima International Contemporary Festival, Rewire, Riddu Riđđu and The Royal Palace of Norway.

Although appearing most frequently on tour with her own ensembles, Mette Henriette occasionally does solo performances, guest performances with other bands and collaborative projects. Among her past and current collaborators are Marina Abramovic, Nicolas Jaar, Radik Tyulyush, Darkside, Valgeir Sigurdsson, Hege Haagenrud, Jo Strømgren, Cikada String Quartet and Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.

Mette Henriette has composed orchestra works commissioned by Oslo Philharmonic and Klaus Mäkelä (later performed by The Hallé at The Bridgewater Hall), string orchestra piece commissioned Arctic Philharmonic, piano trio piece commissioned by Cikada and one piece for solo violin commissioned by Eldbjørg Hemsing.

Her latest album Drifting released on ECM Records in 2023, is highly praised by the International press including The Guardian, Pitchfork, Downbeat, Radio France, Télérama, Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Jazz Magazine, JAZZIZ, BR Klassic, Stereogum and Musica Jazz.

She has also been featured on TV and radio (BBC 6 Radio, Radio France, Bayrischer Rundfunk, Deutchlandradio Kultur, TSF Jazz Radio, Worldwide FM, Público, ERA2 and NRK) as well as in magazines (The Independent, Jazzwise, Jazz Magazine, Jazz News, La Repubblica, Le Soir, Musica Jazz, Süddeutsche Zeitung and ELLE France)

Mette Henriette is the recipient of Statens Kunstnerstipend, Sametingets Kunstnerstipend, Gramart Artiststipend, TONO Komponistsipend and School for Improvisational Music NYC Scholarship. She had artist residencies at Southbank Centre, Artica Svalbard and Edvard Munch’s Ekely.

She was nominated as ‘Composer of the year’ at Sámi Music Awards and Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy Awards) Export Award, and has been awarded with Adressas Musikkpris and Geir Digernes Minnepris.

“A contemporary-music star on the rise.”

— John Fordham | The Guardian

“It is seldom I find someone I don’t know in the music world when that someone is one who surprises you with their talent and presence, and Mette is one of these people with that rare quality. She has an other worldly presence and appearance, utterly fascinating.”

— Anton Corbijn

“Une fille rare qui joue les John Coltrane du froid.”

— T. J. | Elle France

“Mette Henriette is different”

— Marina Abramovic

“Jazz album of the year 2015.”

— Phil Johnson | Independent on Sunday

“È una futura stella della musica d’improvvisazione.”

— Alfredo D’Agnese | La Repubblica

“One of the most intriguing artists on the ECM Roster, a musician of ambition and vision.”

— Nick Hasted | Jazzwise

“Mette Henriette Martedatter Rølvåg — to use her full name — manipulates space and texture like a watercolourist, allowing tones to blend and separate with a sure touch, hinting at melody, harmony and rhythm without getting too explicit about anything. [...] If Wayne Shorter had been born a woman in Norway around 25 years ago, this is the music he (or rather she) might be making today.”

— Richard Williams | The Blue Moment

“Her compositions are geared toward the musicianship of the overall group rather than providing a showcase for her own considerable skills as a musician and there is little to suggest that the composer is heavily influence by outside forces. Mette Henriette is original and unique and should generate much anticipation around her future projects.”

— Karl Ackermann | All About Jazz

“Une musique aérienne, intime, souvent mystérieuse, qui reflète les grands espaces de son pays, le vent dans les bouleaux, le soleil de minuit, la terre rude et la joyeuse floraison colorée du printemps. Sa musique est peinture.”

— Jean-Claude Vantroyen | Le Soir

“È una figura sui generis. [...] È anche in assoluto una delle musiciste più interessanti nel panorama del jazz europeo di oggi.”

— Ivo Franchi | Musica Jazz

“Wow! This is really something else! Another treasure from the school of outstanding unknowns.”

— Bruce Lee Galanter I Downtown Music Gallery