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Palle Mikkelborg / Jakob Bro / Marilyn Mazur: Strands

By Karl Ackermann
November 10, 2023
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Palle Mikkelborg / Jakob Bro / Marilyn Mazur: Strands

Strands brings together three of Denmark's finest artists, in their ancestral home.

Palle Mikkelborg

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Palle Mikkelborg and

Marilyn Mazur

percussion
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Marilyn Mazur have a substantial history together, as does

" data-original-title="" title="">Jakob Bro but to a lesser extent. Bro penned five of the six compositions, one with Mikkelborg, who also contributed one of his pieces. In a storied career which dates to the '60s, Mikkelborg has recorded as a leader in only five previous projects. Nevertheless, his work with

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon,

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis,

Gary Peacock

bass, acoustic
1935 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Peacock,

Terje Rypdal

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Terje Rypdal, and many other top names, places him securely in iconic status.

Mazur, an American-born percussionist, has lived in Denmark since the age of six. She has worked with

Gil Evans

composer / conductor
1912 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Evans,

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter,

Jan Garbarek

saxophone
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Jan Garbarek and, at Mikkelborg's request, appeared on Miles Davis' Aura (Columbia, 1989). Mikkelborg wore multiple hats on that project, acting as producer, composer, and performer. Bro leads a trio with

Joey Baron

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Baron and

Thomas Morgan

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Morgan and was a member of the

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian Band, and

Tomasz Sta��ko

trumpet
1942 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomasz Sta��ko's Dark Eyes Quintet. He has worked with

Paul Bley

piano
1932 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Bley,

Bill Frisell

guitar, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Frisell,

Chris Speed

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Speed, and

Kenny Wheeler

flugelhorn
1930 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wheeler.

Opening with "Gefion" and "Oktober" the trio establishes an Intimate setting under brooding skies. Mikkelborg's searching flugelhorn conveys boldness without breathing fire. The Mikkelborg & Bro piece, "Returnings," breaks the mood with a piercing trumpet, electric guitar, and Mazur's exotic rhythms. A forceful, hard-edged attack suddenly dissolves, quietly buzzing to a near silence. The title track resumes the initial atmospherics, closing, almost twelve minutes later with faint detachment from the theme. The ethereal "Youth" is a gem of slightly distorted melancholy with Bro's excellent acoustic guitar and the muted haunting of Mikkelborg's brass. The plaintive closing piece, "Lyskaster," is an elegant, if too brief, conclusion to the program.

Strands was recorded live in early 2023, at the Danish Radio Concert Hall, with minimal audience reaction. The resounding acoustics of the venue heighten the superb work of the trio. Regular Mikkelborg listeners may recognize that almost all the compositions on this album were originally recorded on Returnings (ECM, 2018). That release featured Mikkelborg, Bro, bassist

Thomas Morgan

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Morgan and

Jon Christensen

drums
1943 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Christensen on drums, and the dynamics are sufficiently varied from these versions. Strands is an absorbing listen from three masters of creative music.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Gefion; Oktober; Returnings; Strands; Youth; Lyskaster.

Personnel

Palle Mikkelborg

trumpet

Jakob Bro

guitar

Marilyn Mazur

percussion

Additional Instrumentation

Palle Mikkelborg: flugelhorn.

Album information

Title: Strands | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: ECM Records

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