Reptiles:
My new band, who recorded 'Reptiles in the Sky', is basically a trio with a 5-piece brass section: John Tchicai: tenor sax and bass clarinet, Stefan Pasborg: drums and yours truly on bass. The brass section is international: Chris Batchelor (UK): trumpet, Claus Højensgård Andersen (DK): Eb horn, Lise Munch (DK): french horn, Peter Dahlgren (S): trombone and Daniel Herskedal (N): tuba. First performance: July 6, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Frue Plads (open air) Kresten Osgood will substitute Stefan Pasborg on drums. In 2011 the band records 10 new original compositions. Anders Banke joins the band on baritone horn, clarinet and tenor sax, and is appointed as Musical Director. Anders Provis replaces Pasborg on drums.
I have played in Jan Kaspersens groups since 1983 and followed his career closely - his is a very eloquent musical being and a great communicator. The hard core of all constellations, the trio aka the vintage trio, is Jan Kaspersen, piano, Ole Rømer, drums and Peter Danstrup, bass. Jan has formed a lot of groups built around this set up: the classic quintet with tenor saxophonist Bob Rockwell and trumpet player Anders Bergkrantz. But also tenor saxophonist Simon Spang-Hanssen is frequently joining us, either as a substitute in the quintet or as soloist in a quartet form. Jan also had a septet, and his largest ensemble was the SOB, featuring the afore mentioned players and trombone players Erling Kroner and Lis Wesberg, baritone player Henrik Sveidahl and several other saxophone players: Fredrik Lundin, Michael Hove, Søren Siegumfeldt, Pernille Bevort and others. Also in this band is guitar player Aske Jacoby and percussionist Klavs Nordsø. Lately I have performed and recorded with Jan Kaspersens Saxchase, featuring alto saxophone player Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard, baritone and tenor player Henrik Sveidahl and tenor and flute player Simon Spang Hanssen.
First steps taken in the early 1980'es this band has roots in the rock and latin scene in Copenhagen. Leader Mikkel Nordsø is a versatile guitarist, burning and flying all over the place. Drummer Ole Theill and percussionist Jacob Andersen are original members, unfortunately Klavs Nordsø left the band 2008. The percussion section has always been strong, at the moment Raul Rekow and Eliel Lazlo joins the band, as well as Ben Besiakov on keyboards.
I concider John Tchicai my mentor. We have played together in various contexts since he joined The Strange Bros. (Ole Rømer and Simon Spang-Hanssen) in 1975. We toured a lot and made 2 records. Later John formed John Tchicai Group with vibraphonist Bent Clausen replacing Simon. At this time we also played together in New Jungle Orchestra. Recently we have been playing local gigs and made some recordings.
A musicians collective this band origins form the RMC (Rhythmic MusicConservatory in Copenhagen). Originally formed on my own inititive it was directed beautifully by Kresten Osgood and Søren Kjærgaard until they left the band, encouraging us to go on by our selves. We did for some time, but now it is asleep.
Originally named Maaneklar this is one of Simon Spang-Hanssen's many interesting bands. The line up: Simon on saxophones and flute, Henrik Sveidahl tenor and bass clarinet, Mariane Bitran flutes, Kristian Jørgensen violin, Bent Clausen vibraphone, Mikkel Schnetler percussion and Benita Haastrup on drums. This band has a unique sound and is hard to categorize.
Six Winds:
A legendary unit featuring drummer Alex Riel, percussionist and vocalist Marilyn Mazur, saxplayer Uffe Markussen, guitarist Bjarne Roupé (who substituted Karsten Hovmark) and Ben Besiakov keys. Thru the 80's a vital part of the music scene in Denmark, but ended when Marilyn joined Miles Davis groups.
Link Wray:
The rock legend Link Wray stayed in Denmark from the 1980's and formed a local trio here including the late Jeppe Reipurth, drums and me on bass. We toured Europe, playing incredibly loud and often leaving the venues flabbergasted. After Reipurth's much too early death in 1989 I lost contact to Link.
Space train:
This was one of Simon Spang-Hanssen's first bands, featuring Simon on saxophones, Ben Besiakov on keyboards and the late Jeppe Reipurth on drums. We made a very nice record in 1981 (Soul on fire) that had deserved wider attention.
Svend Asmussens String Swing:
I played with the Danish violinist Svend Asmussen (born 1916) in 1980-81. The lineup was unusual and supposed to resemble early French gypsy jazz combos like Django Reinhart a.o. We toured a lot in Scandinavia and also made a TV appearance in Danish State Television. Svend Asmussen violin, Pierre Dørge guitar, Nikolai Gromin (USSR) guitar, Fritz von Bülow guitar, Peter Danstrup bass.
Cox Orange:
Formed in 1975 this band was a result of the legendary Vallekilde summer camps, in those days the only educational opportunity for jazzmusicians in Denmark. The setup was at that time remarkable with 2 electric guitars, keyboards, latin percussion and up to 4 saxophones. We played our (mostly original) jazz/rock or fusion on a regular basis until 1986. The first band was Holger Laumann (1943-2007) ts, ss Morten Elbek as, Anders Gaardmand ts, Finn Gustafsson g, Flemming Ostermann g, voc Karsten Simonsen keys, Birger 'Krølle' Sulsbrück perc, Mogens Ostermann dr, Peter Danstrup b. Later Niels Mathiassen ts, Ole Rømer dr, Ethan Weisgard dr joined the band.
Pete Dan Band:
My own band, playing my own material and featuring me on the electric bass. The first band started in 1978 performing at the legendary Musikcafe'n in Copenhagen, and included Poul Halberg guitar, Ole Thøger on alto saxophone, Peter Svarre keyboards and Jeppe Reipurth on drums. Later drummer Niels Ratzer joined in.
Op Op Op:
This band was started 1987 and played only a couple of years. With two musicians in Norway it was difficult to play on a regular basis. The line up was Jon Balke (Norway) keyboards, Per Jørgensen (Norway) trumpet, Uffe Markussen (DK) saxophones, Pierre Dørge (DK) guitar, Ole Rømer (DK) drums, Peter Danstrup, bass.
Two Bass Hit:
This band started around 1988, lead by saxophoneplayer Søren Siegumfelt Eriksen, who wrote most of the music, and who had the idea of using 2 bassplayers. This was an interesting challenge, and I really enjoyed playing with the Danish bass legend Hugo Rasmussen. We did a record in 1989 and shortly after the band stopped. Line up: Søren S Eriksen alto sax, Lotte Anker tenor sax, Hugo Rasmussen bass, Peter Danstrup bass, Michael Paulsen drums.