Mikkel Nordsø Band - Diving in Space for 3 Decades (2015)

With a sensational album the acclaimed Copenhagen guitar master and his band turns another corner in a remarkable career.

Travel to far destinations, and you are likely to hear the nickname Golden Fingers when talk falls on Mikkel Nordsø and his abilities on the fretboard of a guitar. From a studio in the middle of Copenhagen, down the sacred river Ganges, or to masters in countries like Mali and Morocco: The reaction is the same - expectations of the unreal. Meanwhile, the object of all this praise chooses a very under-played and Danish approach, smiling below the brim of his sixpence, shouldering his brown electric guitar, stepping on the wah-wah pedal and letting all hell break loose.

Mikkel Nordsø’s expressive guitar artistry is legendary and versatile. Letting his beloved Paul Reed Smith guitar soar loudly through the various effects of his board and the stereo sound of two amps. Or using a subtler and poetic approach, fingers dancing a bossa, a fierce samba or a flamenco inspired by the late Paco.

However, it is at the helm of his own peerless group, one finds Mikkel Nordsø in his most cherished element. With a sound and a wealth of ideas and inspiration more vitalizing than ever, Mikkel Nordsø Band celebrates its 30th anniversary. Three decades!!!

Still with more or less the same chosen group of musicians since 1985, when the dream of a band combining styles like salsa, rock, blues and jazz, became a reality.

Diving In Space For 3 Decades is the title of this new album. Mikkel Nordsø aficionados will know that the title hints at Space Diver, a signature tune at concerts since 1993. With its characteristic opening solo, the disciplined funky arrangement and another neck-breaking solo at 200 miles an hour, it is a journey in space and a tip of the sixpence to Jimi Hendrix, idol for Mikkel and many others. And the legendary guitarist is probably nodding affirmatively in his seat in rock’n’roll paradise in acknowledgement of the combined skills and attitude of his Danish colleague.

Likewise, Jimi and we mere mortals may rejoice at the parade of musicians delivering a qualified response: bass player and professor, Peter Danstrup, percussion ace, Jacob Andersen, drummer Ole Theill, piano player Ben Besiakov and the young star straight out of Cuba, Eliel Lazo, a great conga player and singer.

This fine album also brought together distinguished guests such as legendary saxophone player David Sanborn, the equally imposing Danish trumpet player Palle Mikkelborg, known for his collaboration with Miles Davis, and the Danish rapper of royal African heritage Al Agami, a local legend, currently having gained renewed momentum. Their voices are more than welcome. They add an extra edge to the music.

An edge perhaps also due to the constant inspiration from sons Frederik and Fridolin Nordsø – among the current master producers of Denmark – at Fifth Dimension, the cosy studio in downtown Copenhagen.

Born to be a musician

His late father, Jens Nordsø, was a painter and designed all his album covers for many years. The cover of this anniversary release is designed in his style, and is the hommage of a son to his father.

The Danes discovered Mikkel Nordsø when he and his older brother, percussion player Klavs Nordsø, and Aske Bentzon started Latin band Buki Yamaz. That was more than 40 years ago, but there was a time before Buki Yamaz:

The renowned Copenhagen jazz scene listened when 15-year old Mikkel Nordsø joined Riel/Mikkelborg V8, a forerunner of the more famous band Entrance. Palle Mikkelborg’s trumpet on this year’s album is the sound of a musical life coming full circle.

Next step was Sneakers, an extremely popular band formed in 1979 featuring the cherished Danish vocalist Sanne Salomonsen, in which Mikkel met percussion player Jacob Andersen. Another important band in those years was the eclectic Anima, featuring keyboard player Kenneth Knudsen and veteran singer and guitar player Cy Nicklin. Ole Theill was the drummer, and a natural choice when Mikkel Nordsø formed his own band.

Lifetime Brothers

There is a sense of brotherhood in Mikkel Nordsø Band: Piano player Ben Besiakov has been part of most collaborations all the way back to school days, when the Bernadotte School in a Copenhagen suburb created the right artistic space for a number of its gifted pupils. Bassist Peter Danstrup can look back at a distinguished career including a number of years as headmaster at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and his own recent tremendous success with the Grammy-winning trio, Klökkeblömst.

Equally successful, Ole Theill is a master drummer, apprentice of a tabla master in sacred Varanasi by the Ganges river, and he demonstrates his jaw-dropping virtuosity with dazzling authenticity in the band Blue Lotus, where Mikkel Nordsø plays guitar with blue and modal musical lines that leave mystics of the East applauding. They are musicians born out of and living in a world without borders.

Mikkel Nordsø Band recently returned from a large festival in Morocco, where the band displayed their skills with Gnawa master Mustapha Bakbou in front of a crowd of 30.000 ecstatic spectators at two concerts shared with millions of viewers on Moroccan National TV and international French TV5.

What they saw and heard was a Danish guitarist letting loose with inspired solos at impressive speed. Mikkel Nordsø Band once more confirmed its unique and international level of artistry with a music borrowing from the entire globe while retaining a distinct Nordic identity.

Enjoy this new record. Embark on a dream journey with legendary Palle Mikkelborg and Mikkel Nordsø. And with David Sanborn playing as if Copenhagen was the axis of the world of music and Mikkel Nordsø Band the orchestra he always yearned to be a part of.

30 years and Forever Young: Mikkel Nordsø Band.

Tracklist:

01. Back in Bamako (5:48)
02. I Like When U Do (feat. David Sanborn. Al Agami & Caroline Franceska) (4:58)
03. Juliana (4:02)
04. Leaving so Soon (4:57)
05. Thanks (feat. Palle Mikkelborg. Jens Haack & Caroline Franceska) (9:34)
06. Awoken Dream (feat. Caroline Franceska & Jens Haack) (4:04)
07. Sea Song (5:40)
08. Mambo Lady (feat. Jens Haack) (4:14)
09. Thanks Part Two (feat. Palle Mikkelborg) (8:01)