Mads Tolling: Nordic Folklore Meets American Jazz

Episode Summary: This week on Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby welcomes two-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Mads Tolling. Known for his work with the Turtle Island Quartet, Stanley Clarke, and Bob Weir, Mads is shifting gears this season to share a piece of his Danish childhood in San Francisco.

Mads takes us inside his project, Cool Yule: A Nordic Holiday Celebration, a "love letter" to his upbringing in Copenhagen. We explore the concept of "hygge," compare the structured traditions of a Danish Christmas with the chaotic energy of American holidays, and delve into the fascinating—and sometimes frightening—folklore of the North. From a rice pudding-eating gnome to a child-eating "Christmas Cat," Mads explains the stories behind the music. Plus, hear how he transforms an 1830s violin into a growling baritone instrument he calls "Uncle Scratchy."

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Life Lately: Meds’ recent touring with Melvin Seals & JGB and his deep dive into the Grateful Dead repertoire.
• Nordic vs. American Christmas: Why the "Christmas spirit" feels different in Denmark, the importance of hygge (coziness), and why the 24th is the real main event in Scandinavia.
• Folklore & Music:
• The Gnome’s Attic: The story of the Nisse who demands his rice pudding (and fights off rats to get it).
• The Christmas Cat: An Icelandic legend about a giant fashion-policing cat that eats children who don't receive new clothes for Christmas.
• "Uncle Scratchy": Mads explains his unique baritone violin, tuned an octave lower to create a cello-like, medieval growl perfect for monster stories.
• The Frozen Connection: How a modern Disney hit connects back to Danish author Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen.

Featured Music:

• "The Gnome's Attic" (from Cool Yule)
• "The Christmas Cat" (from Cool Yule)

Upcoming Live Show: Catch Mads Tolling & The Mads Men live for a special holiday engagement!

• Event: Cool Yule: A Nordic Holiday Celebration
• Dates: Saturday, Dec 13 & Sunday, Dec 14, 2025
• Venue: Joe Henderson Lab, SFJAZZ (San Francisco)
• Showtimes: 7:00 PM & 8:30 PM
• The Band: Mads Tolling (violin), Colin Hogan (piano/accordion), Gary Brown (bass), Eric Garland (drums).

Resources & Links:

• Get Tickets: SFJAZZ Ticket Link
• Mads Tolling Official Site: madstolling.com
• Host: Steve Roby, Backstage Bay Area