Cortex is an energetic quartet founded by Thomas Johansson in 2007. The band plays jazz with an open framework, yet grounded in strong melodic and rhythmic elements, where the musicians share a common musical platform rooted in American avant-garde jazz from the 1960s and 1970s. Cortex is a blazing-hot collective with extraordinary soloists, whether they are playing at a furious pace or bringing the dynamics all the way down to something delicate and fragile.

They are joined by the modern national treasure Hedvig Mollestad—the jazz guitarist somewhere between Terje Rypdal and Iron Maiden—who contributes both heavy riffs and long, flowing lines. Mollestad herself studied under Jon Eberson and frequently appears with Bernhoft’s band, as well as from time to time with Jon Balke, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and Hilde Kjersem. Along the way she has composed commissioned works for Vossa Jazz and Parken in Ålesund, and has served as Artist in Residence at Moldejazz. She has won the Young Jazz Talent of the Year award, the Kongsberg Jazz Musician Award, and a Spellemann Award for the album *Ekhidna*.

Together with Cortex, she creates high-energy music that makes the body shake with joy.