Anyone heard Palle Mikkleborg play the trumpet?

I first heard Palle Mikkleborg on an ECM album by Terje Rypdel called Descendre that I got from a bargain bin at Jumbo Records in Leeds when I was a student there. I was immediately taken with his sound which is the first thing that always draws you to any music. Some people say it's a good dollop of Miles but Palle Mikkleborg has had a very long career that has obviously drawn on Miles' music but the European cultural influence marks him out as his own person and I personally find him to be instantly recognisable. He has totally mastery of the trumpet and also his effects pedals. 

Anyway the reason I'm writing this is that I have just bought a new cd today of a guitarist I had never heard before, Jakob Bro, the album is called Returnings and I highly recommend it. Along with Bro and Palle Mikkleborg is one of my favourite drummers, Jon Christenson who has had a long association with Mikkleborg playing alongside him on the Terje Rypdel album I mentioned earlier. On bass is Thomas Morgan who I have only heard before on Masabumi Kikuchi's last Trio album for ECM. He is wonderful, so many great players around these days, he is particularly special and along with Christenson make a perfect combination to accompany Bro and Mikkleborg. 

The music is distinctly European and I love it. So many great moments on this cd. I rarely buy much music these days as most albums that I listen to still are the albums I bought in my early days of listening. Most great music I have heard I have come across accidentally. I remember hearing Stan Getz for the first time when I was on holiday with my parents and my brother in Bournemouth. The owner of the bed and breakfast we were staying in was a jazz fan and he put Getz /Gilberto on for me (I was about 12 years old) and I was again immediately taken by the sound. Ever since then, all I have wanted to do is improvise and approach music like Stan Getz. Somewhere along the way I heard Palle Mikkleborg and it had the same effect. 

I was lucky enough to hear Palle Mikkleborg perform at Leeds College of Music with the George Russell Orchestra. It was an afternoon workshop / concert in quite a small venue called the Institute Gallery. The whole band were fantastic and if I remember correctly, Kenny Wheeler was also in the trumpet section. On this occasion Mikkleborg did the only trumpet solo and it was memorable. 

Mikkleborg is also a great composer, most will be familiar with his collaboration with Miles, Aura. Another album by Mikkleborg that I came across a couple of years ago is an orchestral album called Going To Pieces. Mikkleborg only plays on the final track.The album demonstrates Palle Mikkleborg's unique writing with some distinct scandanavian colours. It is exceptional music and has become the soundtrack to our family holidays in North Wales. Perfectly complimenting the Welsh countryside. 

Palle Mikkleborg is in his seventies now but if I hadn't told you that, you would think it was some young "dude" whose come from nowhere playing "on the edge". Check out the album, you won't regret it. I'm still learning, and it's from the same people it always was....Palle Mikkleborg, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Miles, Chet Baker, Herbie Hancock, Paul Bley, Paul Motian, Bob Brookmeyer and last but not least... Mike Walker and Les Chisnal. 

Here is a video from the album Returnings by Jakob Bro.